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Facing a deadly surge of opioid deaths — about 1,500 last year — and thousands more overdoses, Governor Charlie Baker and the Legislature have expanded funding for treatment beds. They’ve mandated new verbal drug risk screenings for schoolchildren. And the policy makers have limited initial opioid prescriptions, in an effort to stanch the supply of the addictive drugs. But one year after his administration’s task force released 65 recommendations for addressing the crisis — and began implementing most of them — Baker and his health and human services secretary, Marylou Sudders, said long-term challenges remain. In a rare joint interview, they described the persistent difficulties of bringing about a cultural shift to further reduce the stigma of addiction. (Miller, 6/22)

Gov. Jay Nixon has signed into law legislation to expand access to medication to combat some drug overdoses. Naloxone hydrochloride, also known by the brand name Narcan, has been approved by the FDA for use to block overdoses from opioids, which include heroin and prescription drugs, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. (Griffin, 6/21)

A St. Charles County doctor pleaded guilty to federal health care fraud charge Tuesday and admitted writing fraudulent prescriptions so that he could obtain pain pills. (Patrick, 6/21)