Report: Overdose deaths, hepatitis C climbing steadily on Cape
By Cynthia McCormick, Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The nonprofit
"The focus is on prevention and wellness," said
Most of the report's statistics, which are drawn from a number of health and human service agencies, were for the state as a whole. But there was room for improvement in the few instances in which
For one, the report says the town of
The fatal overdose rate in
"The overdose rate in
But it's not all local residents overdosing in the town, he said
People coming from
"
"They can make arrangements to meet someone from the town of
The epidemic of opiate use including heroin is a statewide plague, Servais said. "The opioid death (rate) is the highest that's ever been reported in our state," she said. "It crosses all socioeconomic boundaries."
Statewide there's been a 90 percent increase in fatal opiate overdoses between 2000 and 2013, and
Hepatitis C on the rise
The report also notes that
"It's not surprising that opiate overdoses and hepatitis C are both on the list because they are so related," said
The liver-destroying disease "is more prevalent among IV drug users," she said.
The MHC report says that while HIV rates are going down, hepatitis C rates are rising.
Hepatitis C is more easily transmittable than HIV and injection drug users can contract the virus from different paraphernalia including needles, syringes, cookers and even contaminated cotton and water, said
Other factors contributing to the high rates of youthful hepatitis C on
Health care workers go to treatment centers, the methadone clinic in
She also said that
In addition, she said, the population of the Cape is older "so anything seen among a younger population is going to get skewed."
primary care hard to find
While more people than ever have health insurance coverage,
That means people on subsidized health insurance have more trouble finding primary-care practitioners, Servais said. "Having insurance isn't going to do you a lot of good" if you don't have a doctor, she said.
"People who have chronic medical issues and are on MassHealth and need mental health (care) or substance abuse treatment -- they really struggle to find someone who is going to take care of them," Nelson said.
The Cape's four nonprofit community health centers are picking up the slack by expanding programs and services with the help of funding from the Affordable Care Act, she said. "That's why we're here."
She said
Fluoridation lacking
The report says all 25 of the largest cities and towns in
"(Fluoridation) improves the oral health of everyone in the community," Servais said. "It's cost effective."
Her organization recommends the state appoint a dental health director to work with local boards of health on community fluoridation programs.
The
She said the Cape's nonprofit health centers have worked with the Oral Health Excellence Collaborative and "tremendously improved access to oral health regardless of insurance coverage."
Among other initiatives, the Community Health Center of
MassHealth coverage also is improving. After dropping all adult coverage except for cleanings and extractions in 2010, MassHealth started adding benefits in 2012. As of July of this year the subsidized insurance program provided coverage for fillings in all teeth; by May of next year it will offer complete coverage for dentures, according to the
"There were really no surprises here," Gardner said. She said the problem areas highlighted in the report are issues "
Local initiatives to fight opiate abuse include a new Cape program offering education and healthful alternatives. The
The health care organization -- parent company of
"All the health care organizations are pulling together to bring more providers to the Cape," she said.
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