Drug overdose deaths in Philadelphia are declining for the first time in five years, according to the Department of Health

The number of people who died of drug overdoses in Philadelphia fell 7% in 2023, the first decline in five years, according to data released Wednesday. Life expectancy in the city also approached pre-COVID-19 levels, a trend that health officials cited as a benchmark for recovery from the public health crisis.

According to the city's preliminary count, there were 1,122 unintentional fatal drug overdoses last year. That's a decrease from the 1,207 overdose deaths in 2022. In 2023, 556 Black people died from drug overdoses – nearly half of all deaths. That was a slight decrease from 562 in 2022, the first decline in Black overdose deaths in a decade.

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The 2022 overdose numbers are below the 1,413 that the Department of Health reported as an all-time high last fall. The health department did not immediately respond to a request for clarification about the discrepancies in its data. Comparing the preliminary data for 2023 with the higher numbers for 2022, the decline in overdose deaths would be more than 20%.

The city did not specify how many of the fatal overdoses in 2023 were due to opioids. Last fall, the city reported that more than 80% of fatal overdoses in 2022 were caused by opioids — and 96% of those deaths were related to fentanyl.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a nationwide decline in drug overdose deaths of about 10.6% in 2023, NPR reported last month. Although federal data is preliminary, some states saw declines in the 20% to 30% range. The CDC predicts a decline of approximately 18.57% for Pennsylvania from April 2023 to April 2024.

Opioid overdoses came up during Tuesday's vice presidential debate when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced significant declines in the country over the past 12 months. The CDC's statistics through April represent the first annual decline in opioid overdose deaths since the 12 months ended April 2019.

Racial disparities are still widespread

The health department shared the new data on the city's PhilaStats dashboard, which tracks population metrics that can be broken down by race, age and gender to better understand health outcomes in Philadelphia.

Drug overdoses were the third leading cause of death last year, behind heart disease and cancer. And there were about three times as many overdose deaths as homicides in 2023, which fell to 402 after peaking at 554 in 2021.

Megan Todd, chief epidemiologist at the Department of Health, said the findings on the city's top causes of death showed progress in addressing some of the biggest challenges during the pandemic. But the data underscores persistent inequities in Philadelphia.

“Too many Philadelphians continue to die from overdoses, violence and chronic illness – issues that have threatened the city long before COVID-19,” Todd said in a news release. “And the impact of these deaths is far from equal. Structural factors like poverty and racism mean that race, ethnicity and neighborhood still determine who bears the heaviest burden.”

The city's overall life expectancy rose to 76.2 years from 73.2 years in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic pushed life expectancy downward. COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in 2020, but fell to 13th in 2023.

Nevertheless, the life expectancy of black men in Philadelphia is 67.5 years, well below the overall value. Black women have a life expectancy of 77.2 years – more than 5 1/2 years less than white women.

The disproportionate increase in fatal drug overdoses among Black and Hispanic Americans has been a nationwide trend since the pandemic. Health experts say the proliferation of fentanyl in street drugs is a major contributing factor.

In Philadelphia, the number of fatal overdoses among Black people rose 87% between 2018 and 2022, according to a report the health department released last fall. Among Hispanics, they rose 43%. Opioids mixed with stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine accounted for the largest increase.

In comparison, overdose deaths among white people fell 12% in 2022 compared to 2021.

Homelessness is on the rise in Philadelphia

The number of homeless people in the city has increased for the third year in a row.

Including people staying in shelters, shelters and transitional housing, the number of homeless people in Philadelphia rose to 5,198 in an annual count in January, according to the Office of Homeless Services. The number of people living on the streets rose from 706 in 2023 to 976 in this year's county – a 38% increase.

Kensington, the neighborhood at the center of Philadelphia's opioid epidemic, was home to 35% of the city's homeless population – those not housed in shelters, shelters or transitional housing. That number was up 23%.

The count came before Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration launched its initiative to clear open-air drug markets in Kensington and eliminate homeless camps.

When the city cleared an encampment on a stretch of Kensington Avenue in May, officials said 59 people had sought treatment or offered housing during the month before the enforcement. Some outreach workers in Kensington have criticized the city's approach to addressing the overdose crisis, arguing that a law-and-order enforcement plan could backfire if harm reduction does not remain a core strategy for addressing the diverse problems faced by addicts are faced.

The city plans to build a $100 million drug treatment facility in Northeast Philadelphia next to the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. The plan calls for 290 housing units and space for up to 690 people in need of services and accommodation.

Concern about Philadelphia's homeless population has increased since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June on a case that may give local governments more power to impose restrictions on homeless people's outdoor time.

The health department stressed that the city is still facing serious public health crises due to the pandemic, but said the data released Wednesday was a sign of hope.

“These new findings are good news for Philadelphia,” Todd said. “The increase in life expectancy suggests that we are recovering from the negative health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”