NYC Health Department: Bronx had highest number of drug overdoses

The entire country saw an uptick in opioid deaths during COVID-19 and the city was no exception.

News 12 Staff

Jan 15, 2023, 11:12 PM

Updated 627 days ago

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Newly released data from the New York City Department of Health revealed that the Bronx had the highest number of drug overdoses.
The entire country saw an uptick in opioid deaths during COVID-19 and the city was no exception.
The Department of Health reported that over 2,200 people died from overdose in 2021 in the five boroughs, which is an increase of more than 75% from 2019 and more than a quarter from 2020.
Of those deaths, most of them were from opioids -- fentanyl in particular -- which was found in four out of every five cases.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most fentanyl users are usually younger. In New York, people between the ages of 55 and 64 actually saw one of the biggest increases in overdose deaths.
City data says the Bronx had the highest rate of accidental drug deaths in the city. Hunts Point and Mott Haven saw the most, and the combination of Crotona and Tremont right was right behind.
The city does say it is working on this by leading trainings in overdose reversal, handing out both treatment kits and fentanyl test strips, and giving money to programs and organizations who work on overdose treatment and prevention.