Boston's Opioid Crisis: What's Really Happening?

Boston is facing a serious opioid problem. Many people think the city's leaders aren't doing enough to fix it. A recent poll showed that most people who read the Herald newspaper agree. Out of 156 people who answered, 81. 4% said officials haven't done enough. Only 5% thought the city was handling it well. Some people, about 9. 6%, think the state should step in. A small group, 3. 8%, are worried about the problem spreading. The city has been trying to help by giving out needles. They give out about 80, 000 needles every year. This is to stop diseases like HIV and AIDS. But not everyone agrees with this plan. Some people think it makes the problem worse. Others think it's a good way to keep people safe. Mayor Michelle Wu's team is thinking about changing their plan. They might stop giving out so many needles. This change comes after a lot of people complained. City Councilor Erin Murphy wants to talk about it too. She wants an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. A researcher found that needle reports are up. There are 20% more reports than last year. And 75% more than in 2022. Needles are being found all over the city. Not just in the Mass and Cass area. This shows the problem is getting bigger.