Boston’s opioid crisis is a statewide plague.

The drug dealing, human trafficking, crime, and now squatting in empty houses have gone on long enough.

It gets worse. The Herald has learned that a 4-year-old child in the city was pricked by a discarded hypodermic needle and is now undergoing a battery of injections to guard against diseases.

The child’s distraught mother is trying desperately to protect her child’s health and identity.

The Mass and Cass crisis has seeped into surrounding neighborhoods, making life in Boston treacherous. The opioid scourge is a societal pestilence. Moving encampments has not worked.

Just this past week we reported that a homeless woman broke into a Worcester Square condo drew herself a bath, slept in a bed, and bled all over the bed. “Band-Aids were everywhere. She had obviously rifled through all of our stuff, stole all my jewelry, all of our cosmetics, toiletries, etc.,” the condo owner said.

The alleged intruder, Katie Mearn, 40, was arrested last Friday for trespassing, malicious destruction of property, and breaking and entering (attempted), in connection with a separate break-in that occurred nearby on East Springfield Street, according to Boston Police. She was released on personal recognizance.

The troubling incident is “another example of how the issue is escalating in and around the South End and surrounding neighborhoods,” according to Boston City Councilor John FitzGerald, who represents the area.

He joined two of his Council colleagues, Ed Flynn and Erin Murphy, in swiftly calling for the city to take “immediate” action to address the Mass and Cass spillover that critics say has worsened since the Atkinson Street tent encampment was removed by Michelle Wu’s administration in late 2023.

“Nobody should have to deal with this level of lawlessness,” FitzGerald said in a statement. “We need to have immediate impactful solutions. A show of tough love now is better than dealing with a preventable tragedy later. Let’s not wait and continue to be reactive.

“We have the opportunity and momentum now to really make an impact and avoid something even worse from occurring,” the councilor said.

Boston should follow his advice now. Arrest any and all suspected of buying, selling drugs. Arrest anyone and everyone involved in prostitution. Stop appeasing the addicts.

This comes after we reported earlier that the city’s rat infestation is being exacerbated by the Mass and Cass drug and homelessness crisis that has spread like wildfire into surrounding neighborhoods.

Homemade grills come in handy for homeless people living and sleeping on the streets, but are like candy to the rats who soon become their cohabitants, as well as becoming the unwelcome neighbors of nearby residents.

“The cooking and discarded food led to considerable rats in the area, along with the trash thrown on the sidewalks,” Flynn said.

Boston has hit a tipping point. City taxpayers deserve a coordinated response by the State Police, Boston Police, DEA, FBI, city and state health agencies, social workers, the Suffolk Sheriff’s office, the Suffolk DA’s office and any and all the hospitals in the region.

Opioids have ruined and poisoned an entire generation and the addicts need help but so do the property owners of this great city. It is time to act.