据MassLive称，马萨诸塞州中央警察进行了为期10周的镇压，逮捕了38人进行毒品分配，主要是针对阿片类药物，如芬太尼和海洛因。
逮捕是马萨诸塞州劳伦斯执法部门在进行了数周的监视和调查后多次扫荡的结果。被捕者的年龄在18至51岁之间，来自马萨诸塞州的哈弗希尔，劳伦斯和梅图恩镇，以及多米尼加共和国。
从马萨诸塞州的一个小镇一直延伸到北至新罕布什尔州边界的多个城镇，从劳伦斯运出毒品的途径被执法机构称为“魔鬼的公路”。一份声明称，警方的镇压行动来自马萨诸塞州和新罕布什尔州多个城镇的40至60名部队，其中包括联邦调查局的援助，被称为“魔鬼行动高速公路”。
美国检察官安德鲁·莱林（Andrew Lelling）的女发言人克里斯蒂娜·迪洛里奥·斯特林（Christina DiLorio-Sterling）表示，除了要进行分发的38起逮捕行动外，至少还有12人面临联邦毒品指控。38人中只有2人被指控犯有与芬太尼销售有关的罪行。
莱林说：“魔鬼的高速公路行动在劳伦斯的街头贩毒方面取得了巨大的成功，这是整个新英格兰地区非法药物分销的中心。” “只有在联邦，州和地方执法机构全力以赴，再加上针对最富裕的药品分销商的切实可行的计划之后，这种行动才能成功。这将不是我们最后一次针对劳伦斯地区的药品经销商或其客户从北部出发。”
除逮捕行动外，行动还缉获了5公斤（11磅）海洛因，14公斤（30.8磅）芬太尼，29公斤（63磅）可卡因，四门枪和防弹衣。
根据WBRU电台和州公共卫生研究，今年截至8月，马萨诸塞州的阿片类药物过量死亡人数下降了11％。这被认为是为了更彻底地分配抗过量药物Narcan。但是芬太尼的使用仍然是一个问题，在所有致命阿片类药物过量的92％中，芬太尼是令人讨厌的药物。
马萨诸塞州公共卫生专员莫妮卡·巴雷尔（Monica Bharel）表示：“虽然阿片类药物相关的药物过量减少令我们感到鼓舞，但芬太尼无疑使我们的工作更加困难。”
年龄在25至34岁之间的年轻人仍属于最高风险人群，在今年前三个月内，占全州911过量电话的24％。
可卡因占39％的阿片类药物相关过量死亡中，苯丙胺占8％，苯二氮卓类占41％。
同时，成瘾者避免治疗被指责为羞耻和污名化。
JOINT LAW ENFORCEMENT CRACKDOWN IN "DEVIL'S HIGHWAY" RESULTS IN 38 ARRESTS FOR OPIOIDS IN MASSACHUSETTS
A 10-week crackdown by central Massachusetts police resulted in the arrest of 38 individuals for drug distribution—mainly for opioids such as fentanyl and heroin, according to MassLive.
The arrests were the result of multiple sweeps by Massachusetts law enforcement in Lawrence after weeks of surveillance and investigation were conducted. The arrested range in age from 18 to 51, and are from Massachusetts towns Haverhill, Lawrence and Methuen, as well as the Dominican Republic.
The pathway of trafficking the drugs out of Lawrence, which runs from the small town in Massachusetts through multiple towns northward, ending at the New Hampshire border, has been nicknamed "the Devil's Highway" by law enforcement. The police crackdown, which encompassed 40 to 60 forces from multiple Massachusetts and New Hampshire towns and included FBI assistance, was referred to as "Operation Devil's Highway" in a statement.
In addition to the 38 arrests made for distribution, at least 12 others face federal drug charges, according to Christina DiLorio-Sterling, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. All but two of the 38 were charged with with crimes related to fentanyl distribution.
"Operation Devil's Highway was tremendously successful in targeting street-level drug trafficking in Lawrence, which is a hub of illegal drug distribution for all of New England," Lelling said. "This kind of operation can only succeed with the full commitment of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, coupled with realistic planning to target the most prolific drug distributors. This will not be the last time we target drug dealers in Lawrence or their customers from points north."
In addition to the arrests, the operation also seized five kilograms (11 pounds) of heroin, 14 kilograms (30.8 pounds) of fentanyl, 29 kilograms (63 pounds) of cocaine, four guns and body armor.
Massachusetts Opioid overdose deaths are down by 11 percent this year so far as of August, according to WBRU radio and a statepublic health study. This has been credited to more thorough distribution of the anti-overdose drug Narcan. But fentanyl use continues to be a problem, being the offending drug in 92 percent of all fatal opioid overdoses.
"While we're encouraged by the decrease in opioid-related overdose, fentanyl is certainly making our job more difficult," said Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel in August.
Young men, aged 25 to 34, continue to be among the highest risk groups, accounting for 24 percent of 911 overdose calls statewide in the first three months of this year.
Cocaine was present in 39 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths, amphetamines in 8 percent and benzodiazepines were in 41 percent.
Meanwhile, shame and stigmatization have been blamed for addicts avoiding treatment.
