Deadly opioid abuse has badly hit Massachusetts, said a task force created by Governor Charlie Baker, adding that drug addiction is synonymous to a medical disease.

A total of 65 recommendations for prevention, education, intervention and treatment and recovery have been recently released by the 18-member group.

“Over the past decade, more than 6,600 members of our community have died because of opioids, and behind those deaths are thousands of hospital stays, emergency department visits, and unquantifiable human suffering inflicted upon individuals, families and our communities”, said the task force in an overview of its report.

Janis McGrory of Harwich lost her 23-year-old daughter, Liz, because of an accidental heroin overdose in 2011. McGrory said education could play a significant role in helping children stay away from drugs that are meant to give them a high. She said she hopes other families do not go through the same pain of losing their loved ones as she has had.

Baker said opioid addiction is a health care issue and has got nothing to do with race, age, class or demographics.

Catherine Sugarman, executive director of Natick Together for Youth, said the task force’s report is pleasing and it’s good to see the issue from a medical perspective.

Abuse of painkillers is often a stepping stone for addiction. Perhaps, this is the reason the task force recommendations also emphasize on bolstering the state's prescription-monitoring program and education in safe prescribing practices.

The task force was chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders and included Attorney General Maura Healey. The opiate crisis has hit all corners of the state, said Healey.