Opioid and overdose deaths are down an estimated 9% across New York state over the past 12 months, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. This is according to new provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the data, the CDC estimated 3,253 drug overdose deaths in areas of New York outside New York City during the 12 months from April 2023 to March 2024. This represents a 9% decrease compared to the estimated 3,575 overdose deaths in those parts of the state from April 2022 to March 2023.

“I’m committed to keeping New Yorkers safe and turning the tide against an overdose epidemic that has taken far too many neighbors, friends and family members in New York and across the nation,” said Gov. Hochul. “We'll continue taking aggressive action and deploying new resources that will save lives and ensure New Yorkers struggling with addiction get the services and support they need.”

“The updated provisional CDC data continue to trend in the right direction, meaning fewer New Yorkers are dying of overdoses. However, we remain cautiously optimistic and focused on saving lives through our ongoing efforts to bring innovative prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services to all those who need it," Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham added. "Free online naloxone kits and drug testing strips, enhanced access to medication treatment, and mobile medication units are just a few ways we continue to use data, equity and harm reduction strategies toward this effort.”

The data is available here.