Pictured: a vial of Naloxone used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. © REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
(New York, NY) – While the opioid crisis is far from being declared “over” — there is progress being reported on the streets of New York City. Health officials say the Big Apple’s number of opioid-related overdose deaths have dropped significantly.
The New York City Department of Health put out data this week showing a 28% drop in such deaths. That’s a year-over-year comparison. It’s also notably the city’s first significant decrease in opioid overdose deaths following a 10-year period of increases. On Staten Island, deaths tied to overdose were cut in half — down a stunning 50%.
Medical professionals have had success with naloxone, a drug that can help normal breathing processes resume when people are in the middle of an overdose. Cops and EMTs have been carrying it now for years. Immediate use of naloxone during an overdose can and has saved thousands of lives.
The Adams administration says it has used a series of strategies in order to make progress. Many of these programs are using settlement funds from opioid-related lawsuits, filed against pharmaceutical makers and others.
