1.
OPIOID EPIDEMIC
PUBLIC OPINION POLL
MARCH 2018
PREPARED BY ANDERSON ROBBINS RESEARCH

2.
Telephone survey conducted by trained professional interviewers
from a central, monitored location
601 Massachusetts adults
January 9-15, 2018
Slight demographic weights were applied to ensure the sample
accurately reflects the demographic profile of the Massachusetts
population
±4 at the 95% confidence level for the entire sample; the margin
of error for subgroups is higher
Some data may not add to 100% due to rounding
Survey commissioned by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
and conducted by Anderson Robbins
ABOUT THE SURVEY
MODE
SAMPLE
INTERVIEWING DATES
WEIGHTS
MARGIN OF
ERROR
NOTE
SOURCE

3.
Opioid addiction is the most important issue facing
communities in Massachusetts today and very few think
it is getting better.
KEY FINDINGS
• A majority know someone who has been addicted to opioids.
• 3-in-10 know someone who died of an overdose.
PERSONAL IMPACT
• There are many serious contributing factors and no clear solution.
• Legally prescribed drugs are seen as fueling the epidemic more
than illegal drugs.
• Half think current regulations make strong prescription painkillers
too easy to obtain.
CONTRIBUTING TO THE EPIDEMIC

4.
• The opioid epidemic is largely seen as a public
health issue, not a law enforcement issue.
• Although the epidemic is seen as disease rather than
choice, this is by a much more narrow margin.
KEY FINDINGS, CONT.
• Most think those addicted to opioids are at least somewhat
to blame for their addiction.
• Lack of desire to give up their addiction is seen as the
biggest barrier to recovery.
STIGMA STILL SURROUNDS OPIOID ADDICTION:
• Increasing access to rehabilitation and treatment is seen as
the most important way to combat the epidemic in Massachusetts.
• Increased law enforcement and additional education follow
in importance.
COMBATING THE EPIDEMIC:

5.
RIGHT DIRECTION
Q1: First, do you feel things in Massachusetts are generally heading in the right direction, or do you
feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
38%
49%
53%
61%
67%
64%
50%
44%
40%
31%
25%
28%
Jan
'11
Jan
'12
Jan
'13
Jan
'14
Jan
'15
Jan
'16
Jan
'17
Jan
'18
A WIDE MAJORITY BELIEVES MASSACHUSETTS
IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
WRONG TRACK
Note: Remainder Not Sure/Refused

6.
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS THE MOST FREQUENTLY
MENTIONED ISSUE FACING COMMUNITIES
Biggest issues facing community Jan 2018 Jan 2016 Jan 2015 Jan 2014
Addiction / drugs / opioid abuse 18% 16% 8% 4%
Economy / jobs 13 18 18 26
Lower taxes 13 10 16 15
Education 12 16 15 15
High cost of living 11 9 18 9
Infrastructure 11 7 10 6
Politics / politicians 11 5 8 4
Healthcare 9 18 15 18
Crime 8 9 7 10
Race / social issues 5 2 4 -
Environment 5 3 2 2
Budget / government spending 4 4 7 5
Illegal immigration 4 1 3 1
Poverty 3 3 4 3
Homelessness 3 - - -
Note: responses under 3% are not shown
ADDICTION /
DRUGS /
OPIOID ABUSE:
North 24%
South 24%
Suburbs 17%
West 16%
Boston 7%
Q2: What do you see as the biggest issues facing your community right now?

7.
25%
28%
29%
31%
38%
58%
71%
THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC
THE COST OF
HEALTHCARE
HIGH TAXES
Q3-Q9: I am going to mention some specific issues facing Massachusetts. Please tell me if you think each is a very serious
problem, somewhat serious problem, not a serious problem, or not a problem at all.
TRAFFIC AND
CONGESTION
THE QUALITY OF
PUBLIC EDUCATION
CRIME AND
VIOLENCE
JOBS AND THE
ECONOMY
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS RATED THE MOST SERIOUS
PROBLEM FACING MASSACHUSETTS
VERY SERIOUS

8.
5%
13%
19%
11%
24%
17%
16%
29%
38%
40%
28%
13%
14%
18%
14%
37%
49%
15%
18%
10%
Very / Somewhat approve Somewhat / Very disapprove
GOV. CHARLIE
BAKER
THE MA
LEGISLATURE
ATTORNEY
GENERAL MAURA
HEALEY
PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP
U.S. CONGRESS
Note: Remainder Not Sure/RefusedQ10 – Q14: Do you approve or disapprove of the work each of the following people or groups
have done to combat the opioid epidemic?
Neutral
MA POLITICAL LEADERS GET LUKEWARM GRADES
ON HANDLING THE EPIDEMIC; TRUMP AND
CONGRESS SEEN AS FAILING

9.
8%
38%
52%
A NATIONAL
EMERGENCY
A MAJOR PROBLEM
BUT NOT A NATIONAL
EMERGENCY
A MINOR PROBLEM /
NOT A PROBLEM
AT ALL
Nov 2017 data from POLITICO/Harvard School of Public Health poll of 1,009 US adults
Q15: Would you describe the problem of opioid addiction to prescription pain medications in this country as:
16%
53%
28%
A NATIONAL
EMERGENCY
A MAJOR PROBLEM
BUT NOT A NATIONAL
EMERGENCY
A MINOR PROBLEM /
NOT A PROBLEM
AT ALL
MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS ARE MUCH MORE
LIKELY THAN OTHER AMERICANS TO VIEW THE
EPIDEMIC AS A NATIONAL EMERGENCY
Note: Remainder Not Sure/Refused
JANUARY 2018:
MASSACHUSETTS ADULTS
NOVEMBER 2017:
NATIONAL ADULTS

10.
47%
36%
9%GETTING BETTER
NOTHING CHANGING
GETTING WORSE
Note: Remainder Not Sure/RefusedQ16: Do you think that the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts is getting worse, getting better or
is nothing really changing? [ROTATE 1-2]
HALF THINK THE EPIDEMIC IS GETTING WORSE;
ONLY ONE-IN-TEN SEE PROGRESS

11.
51%
30%
7%TOO HARD
ABOUT RIGHT
TOO EASY
Note: Remainder Not Sure/RefusedQ56: Do you believe regulations around the availability and prescribing of strong prescription
painkillers make it too easy or too hard for people to get strong prescription painkillers, or do
you think they are about right?
HALF THINK IT IS TOO EASY TO GET
PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS

12.
37%
24%
34%
DRUGS PRESCRIBED
BY A DOCTOR
ILLEGAL DRUGS
(BOTH /
COMBINATION)
Note: Remainder Not Sure/RefusedQ27: For most people addicted to opioids in Massachusetts, do you think addiction starts by
using: [ROTATE]
RESIDENTS THINK MORE ADDICTION STARTS
FROM LEGALLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS, THAN
ILLEGAL DRUGS

13.
61%
57%
56%
57%
25%
27%
31%
29%
OVERALL
URBAN
SUBURBAN
RURAL
Excellent/Good Poor/Fair
RESIDENTS GIVE POOR RATINGS FOR
AVAILABLE ADDICTION CARE AND TREATMENT
Note: Remainder Not Sure/RefusedQ28: How would you rate the care and treatment available to Massachusetts families dealing
with opioid addiction

14.
STIGMA

15.
36%
8%
55%A PUBLIC
HEALTH ISSUE
A LAW ENFORCE-
MENT ISSUE
(BOTH)
Note: Remainder Not Sure/RefusedQ34: Do you think the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts is an issue
that should be addressed as more of [ROTATE]
THE EPIDEMIC IS VIEWED AS MORE OF A
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAN A LAW
ENFORCEMENT ISSUE

16.
31%
28%
39%*IT IS A DISEASE
IT IS A CHOICE
(COMBINATION)
Note: Remainder Not Sure/RefusedQ36: Which comes closer to your view about opioid addition: [ROTATE]
*Post-grads 57%
RESIDENTS HAVE MIXED VIEWS ON WHETHER
ADDICTION IS A DISEASE OR A CHOICE

17.
ALL OF
THE BLAME
MOST OF
THE BLAME
SOME OF
THE BLAME
Q35: How much blame, if any, do you place on the people who are addicted to opioids for their addiction?
NOT MUCH OF
THE BLAME
NONE OF
THE BLAME
RESIDENTS BELIEVE THOSE ADDICTED TO
OPIOIDS SHARE AT LEAST SOME OF THE BLAME
FOR THEIR CONDITION
3%
12%
51%
23%
8%
Note: Remainder Not Sure/Refused

18.
58%
67%
72%
More people view opioid addiction as a healthcare
problem rather than a law enforcement problem
More people view opioid addiction as a disease
rather than a choice
Fewer people view those suffering from opioid
addiction as deserving of blame for their addiction
Q38-Q40: Now I’d like to get your opinion on how attitudes towards the opioid epidemic have changed in recent years.
Please tell me if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
COMPARED TO A FEW YEARS AGO
MAJORITIES AGREE THAT VIEWS ARE SHIFTING
AWAY FROM CRIMINALIZATION/STIGMATIZATION
PERSPECTIVES
AGREE

19.
50%
55%
56%
63%
66%
NOT WANTING TO
GIVE UP ADDICTION
LACK OF ACCESS TO
TREATMENT PROGRAMS
PHYSICIANS CONTINUING
TO PRESCRIBE OPIOID
PAINKILLERS
Q41-Q45: For those suffering from opioid addiction, do you think each of the following is a major barrier to
recovery from addiction, a minor barrier, or not a barrier at all
SHAME OF ADDICTION &
FEAR OF BEING STIGMA-
TIZED AS AN ADDICT
A LACK OF HOPE
THAT THEY CAN
REJOIN SOCIETY
RESIDENTS SEE A RANGE OF MAJOR BARRIERS
TO RECOVERY; LACK OF PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY TOPS THE LIST
MAJOR BARRIERS

20.
COMBATING
THE EPIDEMIC

21.
5%
5%
6%
7%
13%
16%
21%
27%
43%Make rehab/treatment/funding available to all who need it
Increased law enforcement/stricter laws
More education about opioids
Q46: In your opinion, what needs to be done to stop the opioid overdose epidemic?
Note: responses under 4% are not shown
WAYS TO STOP THE OPIOID
OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC
INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF REHABILITATION
AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS TOPS VOTERS’ LIST OF
WAYS TO COMBAT THE EPIDEMIC
Doctors should prescribe less/be held accountable
Use non-addictive painkillers/use other pain
management techniques
Hold pharmaceutical companies accountable
Ban use of fentanyl/addictive painkillers
Increased monitoring of doctors who prescribe opioids
Decriminalize drugs

22.
68%
76%
79%
85%
87%
88%
88%
89%
91%
Requiring doctors to inform patients about risk of addiction when
prescribing strong painkillers
Increasing the use of so-called medication management
to support rehabilitation
Adding education about opioid and painkiller addiction to
school curriculums
Q47-Q55: I am going to read some proposals for dealing with the opioid addiction crisis in
Massachusetts. Please tell me if you think each proposal is an excellent, good, not very good,
or a bad idea for dealing with opioid addiction here.
Increasing funding to make substance abuse treatment/rehab
facilities more readily available
Increasing training for doctors/nurses/pharmacists about
painkillers/opioid addiction
Increasing state monitoring of doctors who prescribe opioids
Make opioid overdose reversal medicine more widely available
Increased monitoring of opioid prescriptions by health insurers
Increasing state monitoring of patients who are prescribed opioids
RESIDENTS THINK THAT A WIDE RANGE OF
PROPOSALS ARE EXCELLENT OR GOOD IDEAS
FOR DEALING WITH THE STATE’S OPIOID CRISIS
EXCELLENT / GOOD IDEA

23.
PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE

24.
77%
22%YES
NO
Q57: During the past two years, have you taken any strong prescription painkillers, such as Percocet, OxyContin, or
Vicodin, prescribed by a doctor for you to use for more than a few days, or not?
79%
20%YES
NO
ONE-FIFTH OF RESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN RX
PAINKILLERS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS –
ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED FROM 2015
April 2015 trend from Boston Globe/Harvard School of Public Health poll of 810 Massachusetts adults
JANUARY 2018 APRIL 2015
Note: Remainder Not Sure/Refused

25.
56%
44%YES
NO
[IF YES TO Q57] Q58: Before or while you were taking these strong prescription painkillers, did you and your doctor
talk about the risk of prescription painkiller addiction, or haven’t you talked about that?
61%
36%YES
NO
MORE RX PAINKILLER USERS DISCUSSED THE RISKS
OF ADDICTION WITH A DOCTOR THAN IN 2015
April 2015 trend from Boston Globe/Harvard School of Public Health poll of 810 Massachusetts adults
JANUARY 2018 APRIL 2015
Note: Remainder Not Sure/Refused | N=131

26.
67%
33%CONCERNED
NOT CONCERNED
[IF YES TO Q57] Q59: When you were taking these strong prescription painkillers, were you concerned that taking
them could lead you to become addicted, or weren’t you concerned with that?
80%
20%CONCERNED
NOT CONCERNED
CONCERN ABOUT ADDICTION AMONG RX
PAINKILLER USERS HAS ALSO INCREASED
SINCE 2015
April 2015 trend from Boston Globe/Harvard School of Public Health poll of 810 Massachusetts adults
JANUARY 2018 APRIL 2015
Note: Remainder Not Sure/Refused | N=131

27.
27%
45%
56%
KNOW SOMEONE
ADDICTED TO
OPIOIDS
KNOW SOMEONE
WHO HAS OVER-
DOSED ON OPIOIDS
KNOW SOMEONE
WHO HAS DIED FROM
AN OVERDOSE
Q60: Do you know anyone personally who has been addicted to opioids? AND Q61: Do you
know anyone who has overdosed on opioids? AND Q62: Do you personally know anyone who
has died from a prescription painkiller overdose, or not?
MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS KNOW SOMEONE
ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS AND OVER A QUARTER KNOW
SOMEONE WHO DIED FROM AN OVERDOSE
YES

28.
33%
51%
72%
77%
28%
47%
56%
74%
23%
41%
49%
61%
ALL TYPES OF COMMUNITIES ARE AFFECTED,
ESPECIALLY RURAL
OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS
A VERY SERIOUS
PROBLEM
Q4: Please tell me if you think each is a very serious problem, somewhat serious, not a serious problem, or not a problem at all: Opioid
epidemic AND Q60: Do you know anyone personally who has been addicted to opioids? AND Q61: Do you know anyone who has
overdosed on opioids? AND Q62: Do you personally know anyone who has died from a prescription painkiller overdose, or not?
KNOW SOMEONE
ADDICTED TO
OPIOIDS
KNOW SOMEONE
WHO HAS OVER-
DOSED ON OPIOIDS
KNOW SOMEONE
WHO HAS DIED
FROM AN OVERDOSE
Urban Suburban Rural

29.
PROFILE OF THE SAMPLE
Category Group
% of
Sample
Age
18 - 29 15
30 - 44 24
45 - 64 38
65+ 22
Gender
Male 48
Female 52
Party ID
Democrat 38
Republican 11
Independent 49
Socio-economic class
High SES: Upper / upper
middle class
23
Middle class, college degree 28
Middle class, non-college 18
Low SES: Lower / lower
middle class
28
Category Group
% of
Sample
Ethnicity
White 81
Latino 6
Black 7
Region
Urban 30
Suburban 52
Rural 16
Education
High school or less 21
Some college 24
College degree 31
Graduate degree 23
Income
Below $30,000 18
$30,000 - $60,000 22
$60,000 - $100,000 24
Above $100,000 24

30.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Greg Winter
617-246-2372
gregory.winter@bcbsma.com
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD
OF MASSACHUSETTS
Amy McHugh
617-246-2311
amy.mchugh@bcbsma.com