Amid the Mass and Cass open-air drug use, dealing and crime that has spilled into other Boston neighborhoods, the Herald asked its readers in a recent poll if city officials have done enough to address opioid epidemic.

Herald readers responded with a clear declaration that they have not.

Of the 156 respondents, 81.4% agreed that city officials have let the opioid epidemic in Boston get out of control.

Only 5% of respondents said city officials had done enough, selecting “yes, it’s a chronic issue.”

Another  9.6% said the state should take action and 3.8% selected “I’m afraid of it spreading.”

These poll results coincide with a City Hall strategy shift indicated by a Wu administration official Thursday at a debate on harm reduction.

Kellie Young said the city is considering a pivot away from its harm reduction strategy – a strategy that currently, in part, involves handing out 80,000 needles each year to drug users to promote safer intravenous drug use.

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The strategy has drawn controversy during Mayor Michelle Wu’s first term, with critics claiming the policy has exacerbated the open-air drug market and officials’ asserting that it combats the spread of diseases like HIV and AIDS that come from intravenous drug use.

Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy also announced last week a push for an emergency hearing following a researcher’s analysis claiming 3-1-1 needle reports in Boston are up 20% from last year and more than 75% since 2022.

Local researcher James Piccirilli found that needles are being discarded throughout the city, even as Mass and Cass remains the epicenter.

The spillover from Mass and Cass into other neighborhoods has not gone unnoticed by residents, with many South End community members decrying conditions. The neighborhood’s drug use, dealing and crime has some residents saying they see moving out as the only way for them to feel safe again.