Overdoses continue to decline in Cayuga County.
During the first three months of 2026, the county saw 21 suspected overdoses, including two fatalities, according to data from the county’s overdose dashboard. This equates to an average of seven per month, down from the eight per month seen in 2025.
Speaking on FLX Morning, Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck said that, along with a decline in overdoses, there has also been a change in what substances people are using.
“We’re seeing fewer people using opiates and fewer opioid overdoses and deaths,” said Sheriff Schenck, “but we’re seeing a number of people in our community shift to different drugs such as methamphetamines and cocaine, away from the opiates.”
Sheriff Schenck said that it’s typical for the popularity of an illegal drug to rise and fall over time.
Additionally, the sheriff encourages anyone struggling with substance abuse issues to go to his office’s website for a list of community resources or to call 211.
After seeing annual suspected overdoses reach as high as 278 in 2021, overdoses have been on the decline, with 2025 seeing fewer than 100 recorded.
