STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Whilst the selection of drug overdose deaths seems to be down on Staten Island firstly of the 12 months, District Lawyer Michael E. McMahon and group leaders warned that the robust opioid fentanyl continues to threaten the lives of our members of the family, pals and neighbors.The ones initial statistics had been a number of the newest drug developments detailed as McMahon hosted the primary assembly of 2025 for the Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Activity Pressure previous this month.One relating to building that precipitated a caution from officers is that some Staten Islanders who assume they’re the usage of cocaine are finishing up in our borough’s emergency rooms as a result of that stimulant used to be laced with fentanyl, officers stated. Additionally, many sufferers are actually being despatched house from the health center with naloxone to triumph over the stigma of getting to acquire the overdose-reversal drugs at pharmacies.Related to just about 70% of deadly overdoses national, fentanyl is an artificial opioid this is as much as 50 instances more potent than heroin and 100 instances more potent than morphine, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Regulate and Prevention. McMahon stated that fentanyl is detected in just about all overdose deaths on Staten Island.
As of March 10, there’s a possible 30% lower in deaths from drug overdoes in 2025 in comparison to the similar time frame final 12 months, in keeping with initial and incomplete knowledge. An equivalent selection of deaths and rescues, 14, are tallied for a complete of 28 overdose responses thus far this 12 months. (Courtesy of District Lawyer Michael E. McMahon)Courtesy of District Lawyer Michael E. McMahonPotential 30% drop in overdose deathsRecent initial and incomplete statistics equipped to the Advance/SILive.com by way of the district lawyer be offering a glimmer of hope within the struggle to save lots of lives amid the overdose epidemic. For this 12 months as of March 10, a complete of 14 other people reportedly succumbed to drug overdoses in comparison to 20 for a similar time frame final 12 months in our borough. The statistics point out a possible 30% decline in deaths.An equivalent selection of other people, 14, had been revived by way of first responders, kin, pals and excellent Samaritans. A complete of 24 other people had been stored throughout the similar time frame final 12 months, so overdoses that ended in rescues are down an estimated 42%.Mixed deaths and saves thus far this 12 months reportedly overall 28, a drop of 36% from the ones 44 emergencies at this level in 2024. National, an estimated greater than 84,000 other people died of drug overdoses within the one year finishing final October, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Regulate. Initial statistics display deaths dipping underneath 100,000 final 12 months after hovering throughout the COVID pandemic.
District Lawyer Michael E. McMahon hosted the Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Activity Pressure at its first assembly of the 12 months on March 6, 2025, in St. George. Borough President Vito Fossella co-founded the gang in September 2023. (Courtesy of District Lawyer Michael E. McMahon)Courtesy of District Lawyer Michael E. McMahonTask pressure meets for first time this yearIn a unbroken effort to care for the overdoses epidemic, McMahon hosted the primary assembly of the 12 months for the Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Activity Pressure on March 6 at his workplace in St. George. Borough President Vito Fossella, who co-founded the duty pressure with McMahon, group leaders, addiction-treatment suppliers and individuals affected by substance-use issues had been a number of the individuals.“The unhealthy information is, fentanyl and opioid abuse remains to be a major problem on Staten Island and all over the rustic,” Fossella stated. “The excellent news is, overdoses and deaths similar to those two have dropped considerably.“We can proceed to paintings intently with District Lawyer McMahon and his staff, legislation enforcement businesses and teams that stay dedicated to finishing this epidemic.”“In spite of a lower in reported deadly overdoses on Staten Island in 2024, in no way are we out of the woods simply but,” McMahon stated. “Over 80 Staten Islanders misplaced their lives to this fatal scourge final 12 months and we owe it to them and their family members to do the whole lot imaginable to place an finish to this five-alarm fireplace.”Joseph Conte, govt director of the Staten Island Appearing Supplier Machine, stated “there are lots of certain developments right here,” together with “the truth that fentanyl is much less potent and no more to be had.”On the other hand, Conte cautioned that the selection of deadly overdoses may build up at anytime, explaining that “deaths can move spike proper again up as a result of I don’t assume individuals are the usage of much less.” “The remedy group on Staten Island is fantastic,” Conte stated. “They lock hands and knock down any limitations, however there’s an improbable wish to achieve those that are in danger, as a result of if no longer we can see those numbers come proper again.”Luke Nasta, president and CEO of Camelot counseling heart, stated that overdoses stay the main reason for loss of life for American citizens elderly 18-44. “In spite of slight enhancements in overdose deaths, the have an effect on of opioids continues to have a devastating impact on our group,” stated Adrienne Abbate, govt director of the Staten Island Partnership for Neighborhood Wellness. 
Since 2014, Staten Island has won greater than 17,000 naloxone kits from the Division of Well being.Team of workers-ShotCocaine laced with fentanylFentanyl is being jumbled in with all kinds of boulevard medication and pretend prescription capsules which are ceaselessly bought at the darkish internet or social media, mavens say. In its “One Tablet Can Kill” marketing campaign, The U.S. Drug Enforcement Management warns that bogus capsules that seem just about just like fashionable painkillers and sedatives may comprise deadly doses fentanyl.Cocaine and capsules that ceaselessly are considered birthday celebration medication turn out to be possible killers when tainted with fentanyl and a couple of doses of naloxone is also had to counteract the results of that robust opioid, mavens say.“Sadly, what we’re seeing is other people are available in with what they concept used to be a cocaine overdose, but it surely in truth is laced with fentanyl,” stated Dr. Tucker Woods, affiliate chair of the Emergency Division at Staten Island College Medical institution, a department of Northwell Well being.Woods stated that just a small proportion of prescriptions written for Narcan/naloxone in our borough are being stuffed at pharmacies.“It’s something to fill your ldl cholesterol drugs, however there’s a large number of stigma” hooked up to selecting up naloxone on the pharmacy counter, he stated.Woods stated group of workers at Staten Island College Medical institution are the usage of naloxone to save lots of those sufferers after which “we’re giving them Narcan to head.”McMahon: Activity pressure is ‘laser targeted’ on saving lives“Whilst hundreds of thousands of bucks have already been allotted to fortify and extend get admission to to remedy, training, and prevention products and services for New Yorkers within the throes of dependancy, extra should be achieved to reinforce the facility of our borough and communities throughout New York State to overcome again this unrelenting epidemic,” McMahon stated. “Because the paintings of the Staten Island Fentanyl and Overdose Activity Pressure enters its 2nd 12 months, we stay laser-focused on saving as many lives as imaginable and dealing with elected leaders in any respect ranges of presidency to make sure that this nationwide tragedy and emergency is handled with the daring, resolute, and swift public coverage reaction it merits.”“The Staten Island Partnership for Neighborhood Wellness is happy that our district lawyer assists in keeping this factor at the leading edge and creates areas for companions to jointly cope with this behavioral well being disaster,” Impede stated.
