Man About Canton: Opioid Epidemic

Did you know …

The number of estimated deaths from opiates has been steadily increasing each year, and according to a recent state report, opiates led to an estimated 1,009 deaths in Massachusetts last year. The report cites key strategies to fight the opioid crisis, including making educational resources and treatment more accessible and reducing the stigma associated with drug addiction.

Governor Charlie Baker has asked lawmakers for an additional $27.8 million to help fund the war against opioid addiction, calling the crisis an epidemic. According to state Representative Bill Galvin of Canton, money was included in the state budget to add additional beds for treatment and detoxification, and new funds were established for a recovery high school and a vivitrol pilot program for opiate rehabilitation. The budget also creates a program so municipalities can purchase Narcan in bulk. Narcan is used to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose.

The second annual golf tournament in memory of Evan J. Greene will be held on Thursday, September 10, at the Easton Country Club. The day will consist of golf, good food, and a chance to win some great prizes, all while helping to bring awareness to the overwhelming drug epidemic that is claiming too many young lives, including that of 19-year-old Evan. All proceeds will benefit Teen Challenge (tcnewengland.org) and The Herren Project (theherrenproject.org). Please contact John Greene via email at john@4acm.com or call Stephanie Greene at 774-826-8768.

The state’s new sick time law took effect on July 1, 2015. The law allows workers to accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick leave in a given year, earning one hour for every 30 hours they work.

Between January 1 and August 1, shares of Dunkin Brands, which is based in Canton, increased 33 percent.

According to a recent article in the Enterprise, Stoughton Selectman David Sousa is calling for a management hiring freeze out of concern that the town may have to file for bankruptcy if its spending continues at the current rate. He also said that the budget is out of control and that there are too many high-paying jobs there.

Americans aren’t enthusiastic voters. According to the Boston Globe, U.S. voters trickle to polls in numbers that put U.S. participation among the lowest in established democracies. Only 54.9 percent of Americans voted for president in 2012. For voters under age 24, the turnout was just over 41 percent, nearly 30 percentage points below those over age 65 — and that election was in the month of November.

Brothers Jonathan and George Comeau have a valid point about allowing Canton residents equal access to the town-owned, 300-acre Reservoir Pond off Pleasant Street. The residents along the border of the “Rez” have unlimited access without restriction as to use, while the public has minimum access and a ban on motorized boats and trailers. The only access area for the public to unload their boats into the Rez is behind the Williams Estate at the Earl Newhouse Waterfront. While the public can only use canoes, kayaks, and other non-motorized boats, residents along the borders of the Rez can use motorized boats. Jonathan Comeau is right when he argued that “the restrictions at the Rez have created two classes of citizens in this public recreation area.”

The town is in the process of setting up a transfer station (two 40-cubic-yard containers) at the Pine Street landfill for the collection of white goods, bulky waste, and electronic items. The town proposes to operate the facility Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s interesting to note that the old Canton town dump on Pine Street occupied 20 acres of land and was used for solid waste disposal from 1930 to 1987.

In order to place a question on the state ballot for 2016, the following procedure must be followed: First, the state’s attorney general rules the question is constitutional. Second, supporters of the question will have to collect 64,750 voter signatures by November 18, 2015. The proposal then goes to the legislature, and if it is not approved by May 3, 2016, proponents must gather another 10,792 signatures by July 6, 2016, in order for the question to appear on the 2016 ballot.

Selectmen recently voted to spend $30,000 from one of their mitigation accounts to resurface Wall and Plymouth streets.

The town may be adding new stop signs in the Wentworth Road area as a traffic-calming measure.

MAC was sad to read of the passing of Tom Moore. Mr. Moore was a cartoonist who brought to life the escapades of a freckled-face, red-haired character by the name of “Archie” Andrews from 1953 to 1988. Archie Comics was created by Bob Montana in 1941, and Moore took over in 1953.

Sam Riemer of Canton advanced to the top 32 golfers in the Massachusetts Amateur Championship before losing in a match play tournament. Riemer fired a 69 to qualify, which included a 33 for nine holes — the second lowest score at the Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg.

Brendan Dawson, 18, son of former Canton and Boston College athlete Dave Dawson, recently shot a double eagle on a par 5 at the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course at Ocean Edge in Brewster.

Oprah Winfrey once said, Be thankful for what you have; you will end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=30532

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Aug 21 2015. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.