New York health officials are cautiously optimistic about a continued decline in opioid overdose deaths in 2025, following a 12.3% drop in fatal overdoses last year, aligning with a national decrease.
Experts credit harm-reduction programs, increased access to treatment like buprenorphine, and drug-screening tools, including advanced spectrometers, for saving nearly 1,800 lives in 2024. However, advocates urge lawmakers to maintain funding and avoid complacency.
Policy priorities include supporting overdose prevention centers, directing opioid settlement funds to recovery services, and expanding drug-checking immunity protections.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].