Drug overdose deaths in county down 51% | News, Sports, Jobs

OBSERVER photo by Gregory Bacon. Narcan distribution is considered one of the key factors that helped reduce the number of drug overdose deaths in Chautauqua County by 2024.

During the first seven months of 2023, 10 people in the Dunkirk zip code lost their lives to overdose. During the same period in 2024, there was not a single known overdose death in the city or municipality.

While the decline in overdose deaths in Dunkirk is quite dramatic, the number of overdose deaths countywide has also declined significantly.

Steve Kilburn is Chautauqua County's drug and addiction services coordinator. He stresses that while things can change quickly, he believes significant progress is already being made. “We have seen a 51% decrease in overdose deaths this year compared to the same period last year,” he said in an interview with The Post-Journal and OBSERVER.

Last year, the county saw 61 confirmed overdose deaths, the highest number ever.

This year, as of September 10, there have been 22 confirmed overdose deaths. “This is obviously an encouraging trend. … The number is not zero. There are still families grieving the loss of a loved one. But nonetheless, this decline is truly remarkable in the face of such a serious problem as the one facing our country.” he said.

DEATHS FROM OVERDOSE IN RECENT HISTORY

Since the pandemic, the number of deaths from drug overdoses has skyrocketed.

There were 41 overdose deaths in 2020. It was the first time that the number of overdose deaths exceeded 40.

The following year, these numbers increased even further. In 2021, there were 59 overdose deaths and in 2022, there were 53 overdose deaths.

The death toll last year was 61, more than double the number less than a decade ago. In 2015, there were 23 overdose deaths in Chautauqua County.

The increase in overdose deaths is generally attributed to fentanyl, as it is detected in approximately 90% of all overdose deaths. “This is the deadly drug, the short-term deadly drug, the deadly drug in overdose – it is fentanyl,” he said.

At the same time, Kilburn said that 70 to 80 percent of all overdose deaths are related to a stimulant, usually methamphetamine or cocaine. Often, those taking stimulants are not even aware that they have also taken fentanyl.

Kilburn believes dealers mix fentanyl into substances like cocaine to make people addicted faster and more strongly. But sometimes the dose of fentanyl is too high and someone dies. “Apparently, in the eyes of the cartels, these are the costs of their business,” he said.

WHY OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE DECLINING

In early 2024, the Chautauqua County Health Department set a goal to reduce overdose deaths by 33% by the end of 2025. So far, the original goal is being met.

In fact, Chautauqua County has made more progress than other places.

According to Kilburn, overdose deaths nationwide have declined by 10% since April 2024. In New York State, there has been a 13% decline. In nearby Erie County, NY, overdose deaths have declined by 6% since June.

Kilburn believes there are several factors behind the decline, but one of the most important is the availability of Narcan, the brand name of the drug naloxone, which quickly reverses an opioid overdose.

The state of New York has made Narcan available to its counties for free distribution, and the population is using it. “They see Narcan as first aid,” said Kilburn.

In fact, according to Kilburn, in half of the overdose cases that Alstar Ambulance responds to, the victim has already been treated with Narcan before the ambulance arrives.

There are other factors as well.

In the fall of 2022, New York State mandated the implementation of a medically assisted treatment program in all county jails. To pay for this, Chautauqua County decided to fund the program using its opioid settlement funds.

Kilburn estimates that about 300 inmates have been treated through the program, which he calls the largest treatment center in the county. “Many of these people would not have sought treatment if it had not been available in this environment,” he said.

Additionally, Kilburn thanks the county's many different partners in the fight against drug addiction, including UPMC Chautauqua, The Resource Center, Chautauqua Center, Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County, TLC Health Network, Prevention Works, Safe Point Lighthouse, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, Evergreen Health, Chautauqua Health Network, Hope Chautauqua, Chautauqua County Health Department and Recovery Options Made Easy. These partners meet regularly.

Kilburn also praised law enforcement and their continued efforts to combat illegal drugs.

He points out that there are many prevention efforts taking place in schools and that they educate people about the dangers of fentanyl and its deadly effects.

Kilburn looks at how all of these factors work together to save lives.

He recently spoke to the Chautauqua County Legislature's Human Services Committee about progress in combating overdose deaths.

He pointed out that continuous training is necessary for the long-term continuation of this project. “It is vital that we prepare a generation to function and resist what is unlikely to change in our culture in the form of contact with and access to addictive substances,” he said.