Fentanyl Impact

Fentanyl-related deaths in Onondaga County significantly increased, with 141 fatalities recorded in 2023. This marks a troubling rise in opioid-related fatalities, particularly those involving fentanyl, which is increasingly present in both heroin and counterfeit pills​.

Given the scale of this crisis, addressing opioid use and providing access to life-saving resources like naloxone and fentanyl test strips are essential steps being promoted by the Onondaga County Health Department. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to combat the opioid epidemic locally.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an unprecedented 10.6% decline in drug-related deaths in 2024, which marks a hopeful reversal from previous years when fatal overdoses regularly increased by double-digit percentages​. This improvement demonstrates the importance of continued intervention and support in reversing the opioid crisis, both in Onondaga County and across the country.