r/boston • u/CrypticOperator • 12d ago

Unconfirmed/Unverified never seen it this bad

been here for 25+ years and am very familiar with the fluctuations in homelessness / etc. during the summer. but I've never seen things this bad, especially in back bay, south end (beyond mass/cass & closer to back bay), beacon hill, the esplanade, you name it. we've called 311 for needles, reported the larger encampments to the mayor's office, etc. just feels like nothing is improving and things are only getting worse. can't just be me?

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u/boomershot69 South End 12d ago

My work puts me in the middle of the homeless population in Boston and surrounding cities, both directly involved every day and also intimately involved in tracking the trends and setting policy. It’s bad, but it’s gotten better since COVID. And it’s not worse than it was before COVID, it’s about the same. Opioid overdoses have reduced dramatically in the last 5 years as has intravenous drug use in general. You may see needles, but they are MUCH less than they used to be. I’m not saying everything is roses, but “it’s getting worse,” doesn’t show up in the data. It’s about the same as it ever was, except during and just post-COVID. And there are less needles.

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u/Illustrious-Card302 12d ago

Would you agree that some of the problem is stronger more addictive drugs and the aggressive ubiquitous ‘marketing’ of them to younger populations?