Bills Would Let Mass. Tally Drug Overdoses

BOSTON -- Lawmakers are weighing a series of bills designed to give Massachusetts a more comprehensive tally of OxyContin and heroin overdoses.

The state has struggled in recent years to get a handle on the problem as the number of overdoses has crept steadily upward.

On Tuesday, the Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health holds a public hearing on a series of the bills targeting drug overdoses.

One would require every doctor treating someone suffering from an overdose to file a report with the state Department of Public Health detailing the type of drug used and the patient's age, race, gender and hometown, while keeping their identity private.

A goal of the legislation is to look for trends so the state can better combat overdoses.