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Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller has released a report – that breaks down the counties and boroughs that have seen the most drug overdoses in 2020 by increase since 2010 (figure 5) here: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/continuing-crisis-drug-overdose-deaths-new-york.

Video from the event announcing the findings on Tuesday, which can be embedded is here: https://fb.watch/gx0i3fZD01/.

The Comptroller was at THRIVE in Westbury, a community and outreach center for people in recovery on Long Island. There is very good sound from the fourth speaker- a young woman named Samantha Morales, who survived a drug overdose after receiving Narcan 3 times. Her title is Program Manager, THRIVE East End.

Key Takeaways from report:

• Drug overdose fatalities surged during the pandemic.
• Opioid-related deaths increased by 68% between 2019 – 2021, claiming the lives of nearly 5,000 New Yorkers in 2021 alone.
• The surge was largely due to a significant increase in deaths from opioids with illicit fentanyl and similar synthetic opioids.
• Overdose deaths statewide from opioids and all drugs in 2021 surpassed the previous 2017 high by more than 1,700 fatalities and are nearly 3,900 greater than in 2010.
• 85% of drug overdose deaths involved opioids in 2021. The rise in fentanyl-related deaths has been shocking, growing from 11% of all drug overdose deaths in 2010 to 78% in 2021.
• Fatalities grew across all racial and ethnic groups. Death rates for all drug overdoses increased five-fold for Black New Yorkers, quadrupled for Hispanic or Latino New Yorkers, and nearly tripled for White New Yorkers.

• In 2020, ten counties or boroughs exceeded the statewide average of 25.4 deaths per 100,000 people.
• (Figure 5) They include all five boroughs — The Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Recommendations

• Improve efforts to track funding, as current financial reporting doesn’t clearly identify total state, federal and local resources dedicated to addressing opioid crisis. 
• Establish clear performance targets and regular reporting on program outcomes.
• Ensure direct funding and support for communities facing the greatest challenges.

WHO’S DYING OF OVER DOSES? KEY EXCERPTS FROM COMPTROLLER’S REPORT