ALBANY, NY – Opioid overdose deaths in New York dropped 16 percent in 2018, the state’s first decrease in 10 years, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today.

There were 1,824 opioid deaths outside of New York City last year, down from 2,170 deaths in 2017, according to state Health Department.

Cuomo said the decrease “… demonstrates our work to combat this deadly scourge is working.”

Onondaga County bucked the downward trend.

Onondaga County saw an 11 percent increase in opioid overdose deaths last year. There were 101 opioid deaths in 2018, up from 91 in 2017, according to the Onondaga County Health Department. The county’s opioid death toll peaked at 142 in 2016.

The state also reported hospitalizations for opioid overdoses decreased 7 percent, from 3,260 in 2017 to 3,029 in 2018.

The state said since 2016 New York has added nearly 500 new treatment beds and more than 1,800 opioid treatment program slots.

Onondaga County opioid overdose deaths rise 11 percent in 2018

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