The New York State Department of Health has released its County Opioid Quarterly Report for January 2023, showing a 14% increase in 2021 overdose deaths involving opioids compared to 2020. As part of the State’s ongoing work, this report provides timely information about county-level health impacts related to heroin and opioid use and this information enables local communities to better respond to the opioid crisis.
“The opioid epidemic continues to affect all of us, as Americans and New Yorkers. Deaths from overdose continue to increase nationally and locally and data can help inform and drive local solutions to this complex public health crisis.” Acting State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “I commend the excellent work being done by the Department’s Office of Public Health and Office of Health Equity & Human Rights, and our collaborators at the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, for continuing to transform how we assist New Yorkers fighting the opioid epidemic and support the medical professionals who provide treatment.”
The report, published quarterly, is authored by the State Department of Health and was established following a recommendation from the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force in 2016.
The report provides county-level data on major opioid-related metrics in a timely manner to directly inform on-the-ground efforts and is a key component of the State’s work to advance comprehensive solutions that target heroin and opioid abuse with a focus on prevention, education, treatment, and recovery. Fentanyl has contributed to an increase in opioid overdose deaths in recent years, is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin, and is now involved in the majority of overdose deaths in New York State.
Key findings, comparing state totals for 2021 to 2020 data, include the following:
- 14% increase in overdose deaths involving opioids, with 4,766 deaths in 2021.
- 12.6% increase in outpatient Emergency Department visits due to opioid overdoses, with 10,430 visits in 2021.
- 30.2% increase in outpatient Emergency Department visits due to opioid overdoses other than heroin, including illicitly produced opioids such as fentanyl, with 5,137 visits in 2021.
- 11.8% increase in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) naloxone administration encounters, with 19,139 in 2021.
A full report for all New York counties can be found below: