AGENCY TESTIMONY
Overdose death trends and racial disparities
0:22:00
·
90 sec
Dr. Morse presents alarming trends in overdose deaths, highlighting the rapid increase and significant racial disparities in these fatalities.
- Overdose deaths more than doubled from 2019 to 2022
- The increase has been especially steep for Black and Hispanic New Yorkers
- Overdoses have become the 4th leading cause of death in NYC, up from 10th in 2010
- More than 80% of fatal overdoses in 2022 involved fentanyl
- The department is focusing on harm reduction strategies, including making naloxone and fentanyl test strips widely available
- Efforts are being made to partner with community-based organizations in high-need areas
Michelle Morse
0:22:00
Our 2022 data also revealed some areas where death rates are climbing.
0:22:05
Overdose deaths more than doubled from 2019 to 2022, and that uptick has been especially steep for black and Hispanic New Yorkers.
0:22:13
To me, what puts the gravity of this trend into perspective is just how much overdoses have climbed the ranks.
0:22:20
In the last decade or so, they have become the leading cause of a leading cause of death in New York City.
0:22:26
In 2010, overdoses were the 10th leading cause of death in New York.
0:22:31
In 2020, they were 6th, and in 2022, they ranked 4th.
0:22:36
We're facing a crisis that has dramatically worsened in recent years, especially among black and Hispanic communities.
0:22:43
The increased isolation imposed by the pandemic and the influx of often undetected fentanyl in the drug supply have had devastating effects across our city.
0:22:53
More than 80% of fatal overdoses involve fentanyl in 2022.
0:22:58
The racial inequities in these deaths are a clear consequence of long term community disinvestment and structural racism.
0:23:05
While our overdoses or excuse me, our overdose prevention efforts are citywide, they focus on communities with the highest need.
0:23:13
We're working to make naloxone and fentanyl test strips widely available to strengthen our harm reduction programs and to partner with community based organizations in high need areas to support the full continuum of care.
0:23:26
Perhaps the most important thing these data can show us are the pain points of our city's health.
