Overdose Deaths Fall in New York, Florida

Overdose deaths are declining in both New York and Florida, but the trends differ: New York’s predicted deaths fell about 8% in the year ending May 2026, a slower pace than its sharp reductions over the prior two years and slower than the national decline. In Florida, state medical-examiner data show fentanyl-caused deaths fell nearly 60%, from about 5,000 in 2023 to about 2,000 in 2025; deaths declined 37% from 2024 to 2025, while total drug-related deaths fell 12%. Florida officials credit enforcement efforts supported by the S.A.F.E. grant program, which they say has produced nearly 3,000 arrests and major drug and firearm seizures, though the reported figures do not by themselves establish that the program caused the decline. Despite the progress, overdose deaths remain a serious toll, and fentanyl and other synthetic opioids continue to account for many deaths in New York.