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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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