Overdose deaths decrease citywide, increase in the Bronx

New numbers released by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene show an increase in overdose deaths.
Although across the city 38 fewer deaths were reported, a total of 391 overdoses occurred in the Bronx just last year. That's is 29 more than 2017.
Crotona, Tremont, and the Hunts Point/Mott Haven neighborhood had twice as many overdoses, according to the report.
Fentanyl was involved in 60% of all overdose deaths. This substance has been the most common for the second year in a row.
Since 2017, the Department of Health says it spent $60 million distributing more than 200,000 naloxone kits. In the Bronx, they created targeted outreach through rapid assesment and response initiative by partnering with community-based venues, programs, pharmacies and shelters.
Late last year, the city said it launched an additional plan to increase resources in the Bronx.
The plan includes connecting drug users to care and services, needle and syringe cleanup and partnering with more community groups.
In Brooklyn, overdose deaths went down last year. There were 273 deaths reported in 2018 which is 82 less than 2017.
Dr. Oxiris Barbot says overdose deaths among Latino New Yorkers increased by 5% across the city. Across the city, black and white New Yorkers went down by 13% and 5% respectively.
Dr. Barbot says the drug epidemic in New York is not over.