NYC overdose deaths have nearly doubled from pre-pandemic levels

Overdose deaths have practically doubled from pre-pandemic ranges in New York Metropolis, based on new metropolis information.

The Division of Well being studies that 1,233 folks died from drug overdoses in the course of the first half of 2021, the latest interval obtainable.

That’s a startling 78% enhance from the identical interval in 2019, and a 28% enhance from the identical interval in 2020.

And that’s not even the ultimate depend.

Some deaths are nonetheless topic to closing dedication, with more-recent quarters “topic to bigger will increase,” the DOH stated, as medication are discovered to elucidate much more deaths.

The company blamed fentanyl — a strong and lethal artificial opioid — for the rise in deaths.

The federal Drug Enforcement Company recorded report inflows of the drug to New York Metropolis in 2021, seizing greater than a ton within the metropolis that yr.

“All through my 30 years in regulation enforcement, I've by no means seen something with better killing energy,” DEA New York Division appearing particular agent in cost Tim Foley beforehand informed The Submit.

 Bags of heroin are displayed before a press conference
Luggage of heroin are displayed at a press convention following a drug bust in NY.
Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs
Bags of heroin, some laced with fentanyl
The Division of Well being fentanyl for the rise within the loss of life complete.
Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs

Drug organizations in Mexico manufacture the drug, utilizing chemical substances sourced from China, based on the DEA.

Fentanyl was tied to 78% of the first-half 2021 overdose deaths recorded by DOH.

Different medication — comparable to ecstasy, cocaine, heroine, and meth — are sometimes lower with fentanyl, resulting in surprising overdoses, a rep for New York’s habit companies company beforehand informed The Submit.

Final month, when West Level cadets overdosed in Florida whereas on Spring Break, they'd been taking cocaine laced with fentanyl.

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