WNY Counties With Highest Opioid Overdose Rates

Recently, seven people died from overdoses in Western New York. In 2023, quite a few people died from opioid overdoses in WNY counties. Last month, Erie County announced that there were 151 opioid deaths, which is more than half of what there were last year. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted about the deaths,

"As a follow-up to yesterday's post about the 7 overdose deaths, the suspected drugs found at the scene by @ECDOH (which were probably laced with fentanyl or a worse substance) were 4 crack cocaine, 2 powder cocaine, and 1 being a combo of heroin and crack cocaine. 2 sets of people died at 2 of the locations: male/female and male/male. The deaths ranged in age from 43 to 61 with 6 male and 1 female. 3 died in Buffalo, 3 died in Tonawanda and 1 in Lackawanna. Our condolences go out to the families of the deceased."

Poloncarz says that anyone who uses drugs should always test them for fentanyl and xylazine. The Erie County Department of Health offers fentanyl and xylazine test strips for free. You can call 716-858-7695 or text 716-225-5473 to get free text strips.

In its Opioid Annual Report 2023, the New York State Department of Health says that opioid deaths are on the rise,

Among NYS residents, there were 5,017 overdose deaths involving any opioid in 2021, an increase of 18.5 percent from 4,233 deaths in 2020. The crude rate of overdose deaths involving any opioid increased from 21.9 per 100,000 population in 2020 to 25.3 per 100,000 population in 2021.

 

The NYSDOH releases annual data on the number of fatal overdoses in each county. These WNY counties had the highest opioid overdose deaths and rates per 100,000 population in the 2023 report:

9. Orleans County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 2.5 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 1

8. Wyoming County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 15.0 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 6

7. Genesee County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 19.1 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 11

6. Allegany County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 28.1 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 13

5. Erie County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 29.8 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 274

4. Monroe County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 30.9 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 230

3. Cattaraugus County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 31.3 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 24

2. Niagara County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 32.3 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 68

1. Chautauqua County - Opioid Overdose Death Rate - 34.5 / Number Of Opioid Overdose Deaths - 44

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