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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 07, 2025 | The Indian Eye 16

Mayor Adams announces opioid overdose

deaths in city drop significantly for first

time in past decade

Funds from Opioid Lawsuits Provided New York City With Nearly $190 Million

Through Fiscal Year 2025, Expected To Grow to $550 Million by 2041

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY
ew York City Mayor Eric
Adams and New York City
NDepartment of Health and
Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Acting
Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse
have announced new data released
by DOHMH that shows a significant
decrease in overdose deaths in New
York City in 2024 — marking the
first substantial decrease following a
nearly 10-year period of increasing
overdose deaths in the five boroughs.
There were 2,192 deaths last year,
down from 3,056 in 2023, mirroring
national trends, and overdose deaths
decreased almost universally across
demographic groups and neighbor-
hoods in 2024. Additionally, residents
of all five boroughs saw decreases
in overdose deaths and, for the first
time since 2018, overdose deaths
decreased among Black and Latino
New Yorkers; however, significant ra- leaders, we must be steadfast in our of overdose deaths — at more than and the state, as well as a court victo-
cial and geographic inequities persist. support of programs that save lives, double the rate of Manhattan, the ry by Attorney General James, have
“The data we are releasing to- while we continue to address histor- borough with the second-highest rate. provided the City of New York alone
day represents a major shift in a de- ic disinvestment and other forms of The rate of overdose deaths among with nearly $190 million as of the end
cades-long overdose crises that has structural racism. I am grateful for Staten Island residents decreased by of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, which, with
claimed the lives of so many New the tireless dedication of advocates, about 49 percent. Residents of Hunts the most recent settlement, is expect-
Yorkers and Americans across the local providers, Health Department Point-Mott Haven, Highbridge-Mor- ed to grow to a total of more than
nation. Progress on reducing opioid staff, and partners inside and outside risania, Crotona-Tremont, East Har- $550 million by 2041. In April 2022,
overdoses will never make up for the government as we work to keep our lem, and Fordham-Bronx Park con- Mayor Adams and Attorney Gener-
families that have been devastated communities and neighbors safe and tinued to bear the greatest burden of al James announced allocations for
and the communities torn apart by connected to care.” overdose deaths in 2024. the first of hundreds of millions of
these drugs, but it gives us hope that Earlier this summer, Mayor Ad- The announcement builds on dollars coming to New York City to
brighter days are ahead,” said May- ams announced that New York City the work the city has done to bring combat the opioid crisis. In Septem-
or Adams. “I am proud of the work saw the lowest quarter in five years for justice to the victims and families ber 2024, Mayor Adams announced
our administration has done to stay opioid overdose deaths while making of the opioid epidemic, including city funding will ramp up to an annu-
focused on this issue by pursuing lit- further investments to drive down just last month, when the city an- al $50 million for opioid prevention
igation and using funds from opioid opioid overdoses. In 2023, New York nounced steps toward recovering ap- and treatment.
settlements proactively, strategically, City saw a slight decline for the first proximately $48 million from a new To address the continued need
and forcefully to support those who time since 2018 in overdose deaths. proposed settlement with Purdue for comprehensive services, the city
are struggling. We will continue to Despite seeing promising de- Pharma and the Sackler family. In continues to invest in evidence-based
make the right investments in pro- creases, inequities in overdose deaths January 2018, the City of New York practices and partner with local pro-
grams and treatments that help keep still persist in New York City. Black sued manufacturers and distributors viders to reach the communities most
New Yorkers safe and healthy.” and Latino New Yorkers each saw a 29 of prescription opioids to remedy the in need. In FY 2025 alone, the city al-
“While we are finally seeing percent reduction in overdose deaths harms caused within the city by the located $41 million across DOHMH,
the needle move on fatal overdoses but died at twice the rate of their misleading marketing and improp- NYC Health + Hospitals, and the Of-
across the city, too many New York- white counterparts. While the rate of er distribution of these drugs. New fice of the New York City Chief Med-
ers still continue to die from prevent- fatal overdose decreased 24 percent York Attorney General Letitia James ical Examiner to support the expan-
able deaths,” said DOHMH Acting among Bronx residents, the borough filed a similar lawsuit in March 2019. sion of services around the city and
Commissioner Dr. Morse. “As city continues to have the highest rate Settlements reached by both the city enhance the existing network of care.

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