WORCESTER, Mass. - Over the last four years, the state's Department of Public Health has reported a steady increase in the number of opioid-related overdose deaths in Worcester County.

The data shows a nearly 18% increase from 2021 to 2022.

“Our numbers are still high,” said Mattie Castiel, Worcester’s health and human services commissioner. “We are trying to figure out what we are going to do. Where are the gaps?”

The City of Worcester is putting opioid settlement money it received from the state to use for prevention, treatment and recovery. The funds are part of a settlement between Massachusetts and companies connected to distributing opioids.

Castiel said they’ve received more than $1.4 million since fiscal year 2023. They’ve used some of the money towards crisis intervention.

“Which is actually calling 911 and you will get a clinical response at the same time,” Castiel said. “We know about the most vulnerable areas in the community. We know where those areas are. Those are the areas with the most 911 calls. So, if we can get a clinician out there to help people, that would be ideal."

The city also started a maternal and child health department to look at inequities, specifically with women of color and mothers suffering from substance abuse. Castiel also believes Worcester is the only city with recovery coaches and outreach workers.

“If you’re not out there you don’t know what is happening," she said. "So how do you intervene? How do we address the issues happening in our community?”  

Meanwhile, other cities like Pittsfield haven’t used their funds yet. Andy Cambi, director of Pittsfield's health department, said they were waiting on action from the state and now must seek approval to transfer the money to a special revenue fund. He said they plan to use it to support the city’s health worker position and the addition of co-responders within the police department.. 

In Worcester, Castiel said there’s still a lot the city needs to do.

“The hospital may need funding for emergency rooms to have clinicians there and recovery coaches, to have recovery centers throughout our city and not just in one spot," she said. "So, there’s different things we want to look at and that starts with preventative measures in the schools.”

Massachusetts did report a small decline in opioid-related overdose deaths between October of 2022 and September of 2023. Since 2021, the state has received settlements in four major cases against companies for the roles they played in the opioid epidemic.