STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Nine people have died of a drug-related overdose on Staten Island in the month since the district attorney's office announced a plan to closely investigate suspected overdose deaths, said a spokesman for the D.A.'s office.

There have been 10 reported overdoses on Staten Island since Feb. 22. One person was saved using the anti-overdose spray Naloxone, the spokesman said.

Last month, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon unveiled the Overdose Response Initiative, a law enforcement program designed to attack the drug plight at its source -- identifying the dealers and suppliers who sell heroin, cocaine and pills around the borough and putting them behind bars.

"While I cannot discuss the specifics of any ongoing investigations, our newly-announced initiative is working as expected and has been fruitful thus far," the spokesman said.

"This office aims to continue its work with family members of those who overdose in an effort to track down drug dealers and the deadly narcotics they peddle."

According to city Health Department statistics, Staten Island recorded the highest rate of overdose deaths in the city in 2014, the most recent date available.

That year, 74 borough residents died of a drug overdose, spiking from 64 in 2013.

Heroin was involved in the overdose deaths of 42 Islanders in 2014, up from 32 in 2013.

McMahon had recently highlighted two apparent fatal overdoses, the death of a 26-year-old male on Feb. 24, the same day his office announced the initiative, and the death of an 8-month-pregnant woman.

"As we all know, Staten Island is facing loss to overdose deaths at an alarming rate," McMahon had said in February during the announcement at Borough Hall in St. George. "Simply stated, our loved ones are dying. ... My office is determined and committed to hunting down drug dealers, aggressively prosecuting them and sending them to prison."