NY Governor Announces Progress on Addressing Opioid Epidemic

Governor Kathy Hochul provided an update on Wednesday regarding ongoing efforts to fight the opioid epidemic that has impacted the nation.

Outside New York City, the CDC counted roughly 3,253 deaths caused by overdoses from April 2023 to March 2024, as well as 3,123 overdose deaths within New York City, This indicates a decline in upstate overdose deaths by 9% since April 2023, along with a 3.1% decline in the city over the same period. After the release of this data, Hochul underlined New York’s aggressive stance on reducing overdose deaths nationwide, including innovative new approaches in delivering services to addicted New Yorkers.

“The updated provisional CDC data continue to trend in the right direction, meaning fewer New Yorkers are dying of overdoses,” said Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, Commissioner of the Office of Addiction Services and Supports. “However, we remain cautiously optimistic and focused on saving lives through our ongoing efforts to bring innovative prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services to all those who need it.”

New York has distributed over 700,000 life-saving naloxone kits, which can save lives during an overdose emergency. This coincides with more than $355 million in Opioid Settlement Funds being  made available since January 2023, the fastest in the country. To help distribute this money, New York founded the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board as part of the continued effort to curb the crisis.