Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced today that overdose deaths in New York City have fallen to their lowest levels since 2019, with deaths declining 58% from their historic peak in 2022.
In 2022, New York City recorded 3,070 overdose deaths. From October through December of that year, 859 New Yorkers died of overdoses, the highest quarterly total on record. By the second quarter of 2026, that number had fallen to 359.
"Every overdose death is a life lost, and a reminder of the work we still have to do," said Mayor Mamdani. "We know what saves lives: connecting people with care and making recovery services accessible to everyone who needs them. We are investing in the peer specialists and community-based organizations doing that work every day. We will keep fighting to bring these numbers down and ensure that no New Yorker is left behind."
In May 2026, Mayor Mamdani announced a $12 million investment to expand access to life-saving recovery services for New Yorkers at risk of overdose. The investment will fund the certification and employment of peer specialists - people with a history of substance-use disorder who support others in recovery - and strengthen direct outreach efforts across the five boroughs.
Over four years, the investment is expected to create 500 new peer specialist positions through community-based organizations citywide. The announcement built on the City's HealthyNYC Initiative , which aims to reduce overdose deaths by 25% by 2030.
"The data speaks for itself: expanding access to substance use recovery resources saves lives," said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. "While the steady decline in deaths is promising, far too many New Yorkers are still dying from overdoses. Our administration will continue making life-saving services accessible to those who need them most and opening more doors to recovery for those seeking help."
"Every New Yorker we lose to an overdose is one too many, but after years of increases, we're continuing to see the impact of investing in lifesaving programs that show compassion and reduce harm," said NYC Health Commissioner Alister F. Martin. "There is still so much work to be done, but every life saved is a testament to the work, our many partners, and service providers who have spent years keeping New Yorkers alive and connecting them to services."
"At NYC Health + Hospitals, we know that preventing overdose deaths requires meeting people where they are and making it as easy as possible to access compassionate, evidence-based care," said Omar Fattal, MD, MPH, NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Behavioral Health Officer. "Whether someone comes to us after an overdose, seeks help for substance use, or enters our system for another medical or behavioral health need, we have an opportunity to connect that person to treatment, harm reduction, recovery support, and the services they need to stay healthy and alive."
"A crisis as profound as the overdose epidemic required that we elevate performance and pursue new approaches including an expanded role for the medical examiner's office," said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham. "Our unique relationship of trust with surviving family members prompted the launch of the DIIG program to connect thousands of those at risk with life-saving support services, while our office continues to deliver prompt and accurate data to inform policy. We are cautiously optimistic about the ongoing decline in overdose deaths and grateful for the innovation, partnership and collaboration that brought us to this hopeful point."
The decline in overdose deaths through the first six months of 2026 continues an annual decline in deaths in New York City from 2022 through 2025, according to new data released by the NYC Health Department. There were 1,873 overdose deaths in 2025, down 39% from 3,070 deaths in 2022.
New Yorkers seeking mental health or substance use support can call or text 988 at any time to speak with a trained counselor and receive confidential referrals to services and resources. NYC Mental Health Connect , an online resource launched last month by Mayor Mamdani, can also help New Yorkers find substance-use recovery services in their neighborhoods.
