Morphine shortage impacts Massachusetts patients, hospice care and pharmacies

Morphine shortage impacts Massachusetts patients, hospice care and pharmacies 
GBH; by Marilyn Schairer; 9/16/25 
Pharmacists and hospice care providers in Massachusetts say the industry is experiencing a shortage of morphine, a powerful prescription opioid painkiller. And while the causes of the shortage are unknown, it’s already affecting people who use the drug to treat severe pain, including cancer patients and people in hospice care. “There is a shortage,” said Dina Breger, pharmacy manager at Greater Boston Long Term Care Pharmacy in Walpole. She said it’s been at least a few weeks since the pharmacy was able to get morphine to patients that need it. 
Guest Editor's Note, by Drew Mihalyo, PharmD: Massachusetts’ morphine shortage highlights a worsening national crisis. These shortages stem from multiple factors—from DEA production quotas (with 2026 levels expected next week) to fragile supply chains and thin profit margins that discourage manufacturing. Without strong pre-arranged access systems, even hospice and cancer patients can be left without essential pain relief. Healthcare is not just about treatment—it’s about preserving dignity for those who need us most. Fixing this requires systemic change: national reserves, better incentives to sustain production, and stronger oversight—transparency in manufacturing, smarter quota setting, and rapid-response mechanisms to ensure patients are never left without care at the end of life.