By Adam Daly
Opioid overdose deaths in New York City fell to their lowest quarterly total in five years during the third quarter of 2024, according to the latest data released by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
A total of 498 people died from drug overdoses between July and September last year, the lowest count since early 2020, when 456 deaths were recorded. The figure represents a sharp decline from the peak of 859 overdose deaths reported in the final quarter of 2022.
The figures, though still provisional, show that through the first three quarters of 2024, the city has recorded 1,709 overdose deaths, down significantly from 3,046 in all of 2023 and 3,070 in 2022. The downward trend mirrors national figures, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting in May that opioid-related overdose deaths fell from an estimated 83,140 in 2023 to 54,743 in 2024.
City officials welcomed the encouraging trend Wednesday but cautioned that the crisis is far from over, noting that one New Yorker still dies of an overdose every four hours in the city.
“We must keep our foot on the gas pedal to continue to save more lives,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse.
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, remains the leading cause of fatal overdoses, according to health officials, while the highest death rates continue to be concentrated in parts of the Bronx, Upper Manhattan, Central Brooklyn and Staten Island.
In response, Mayor Eric Adams is set to announce on Wednesday $4 million in new city contracts with nine treatment providers aimed at expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder, including methadone and buprenorphine.
The funding will support a low-threshold model of care focused on same-day treatment entry and flexible, community-based services, according to the administration.
Providers receiving the contracts include Project Renewal, Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, Interborough Developmental and Consultation Center, Sun River Health, VIP Community Services, START Treatment & Recovery Centers, Odyssey House, the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice, and Greenwich House.
The money comes from more than $154 million the city has received so far from opioid litigation settlements, a figure expected to exceed $500 million by 2040, according to officials. The settlements stem from lawsuits filed by both the city and state, as well as a court victory by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“For too long, opioid overdoses have ripped families and communities apart, but there is light on the horizon with opioid overdose deaths citywide seeing their lowest numbers in five years,” said Mayor Adams. “We are committed to maintaining this downward trend by continuing to invest in the programs and treatments that support those who are struggling. With smart investments, including those awarded through opioid settlement funds, we are making our city safer, healthier, and the best place to raise a family.”
The new funding for the providers is also aimed at helping providers to expand their reach to engage with people in settings such as shelters, supportive housing, and syringe service sites. The Health Department said it will offer training and technical assistance to the contracted providers.
City officials said the new contracts align with the administration’s broader “HealthyNYC” initiative, which seeks to reduce overdose deaths by 25 percent and raise the average citywide life expectancy to 83 years by 2030.
“Using these dollars to support evidence-based interventions through trusted community partners will allow us to reach more New Yorkers and keep people engaged in these lifesaving services,” Dr. Morse added.