Rising Opioid Overdose Deaths in Onondaga and Cook Counties

Onondaga County in New York has reported 33 drug overdose deaths in the first quarter of 2023, with all but two deaths attributed to fentanyl use. The county has been battling a surge in overdose deaths in recent years, primarily driven by the potent synthetic opioid fentanyl, which is often mixed with other drugs to increase potency. The county has consistently recorded over 100 overdose deaths annually since 2018, with fentanyl-related deaths surpassing those caused by heroin and other opioids. The county continues to witness a high number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses each week, with 1,225 opioid overdose deaths recorded since 2012.