In some cases — New Bedford, Lynn, Haverhill, Brockton, Lowell, and Chelsea, for example — the high rates show the devastating toll of the epidemic.

The map below shows the number of opioid overdose deaths per capita in 2015 for each city and town across the state.

The opioid crisis has hit Massachusetts hard, particularly in some communities.

In other cases, the high rates may be more of a mathematical quirk. The rates are high in the towns of New Ashford in Western Massachusetts and Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard, for example, because of their small populations.

The problem is widespread: 221 of the state’s 351 cities and towns had at least one overdose death in 2015.


Matt Rocheleau can be reached at matthew.rocheleau@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @mrochele