Recent Trends in Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths in New York City, 1999 to 2020

This study aimed to assess the temporal trends in opioid-involved overdose deaths in New York City (NYC) from 1999 to 2020 overall, and by age, sex, race/ethnicity, county, opioid type, and intent. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WONDER database, opioid overdose fatalities were identified by referencing the multiple cause of death files, utilizing codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision. Joinpoint regression assessed temporal trends, with annual percentage changes and average annual percentage changes calculated using the permutation method. 95% confidence intervals were estimated using both the empirical quantile method and the parametric method. From 1999 to 2020, New York City recorded a total of 14,371 opioid-involved overdose deaths. In recent years, overall deaths have increased by 14.5% per year (95% CI, 10.7–20.8) from 2011 to 2020. Contemporary trends have worsened across the subcategories of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and opioid type. The findings of this study offer specific metrics for areas within NYC, facilitating targeted interventions and establishing baselines to underpin the sustainability of these efforts.