The New Orleans Health Department’s (NOHD) Office of Behavioral Health today released the findings of its 2024 Annual Opioid Report, detailing local trends in overdose deaths, citywide response efforts, and new initiatives made possible by Opioid Settlement Funds.
Among the key findings in this year’s report is a noteworthy decline in drug overdose deaths. Deaths declined by 44%, from a record high of 523 accidental deaths in 2023 to 293 deaths in 2024. The decrease in overdose deaths in New Orleans follows a national trend that began a few years ago. One likely contributor to the reduction in deaths is a decline in the presence of fentanyl in overdose deaths. According to the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office, fentanyl was detected in 71% of fatal overdoses in 2024, down from 86% in 2023. However, overdoses involving stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine continued to rise, signaling a shift in the substances contributing to fatal overdoses across the city.
“For the past decade or more, drug overdose deaths have been one of the most significant causes of mortality in our community,” said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Director of the New Orleans Health Department. “Thanks to the dedicated and persistent work of so many partners and advocates, that tide has finally turned. Our goal at the New Orleans Health Department is to continue progress while significantly expanding our collective capacity and response so that these gains accelerate and result in more lives saved.”
While New Orleans has experienced a decrease in drug overdoses and deaths over the past year, the fight against the opioid epidemic remains a significant challenge locally. In 2025, we plan to implement critical prevention measures:
- An Overdose Fatality Review will promote collaboration across various sectors to identify gaps in public health and public safety systems that contribute to drug overdose deaths.
- A harm reduction mobile unit will be launched to provide broader access to services for individuals who typically fall outside traditional health care systems and reside in hard-to-reach locations.
- The New Orleans Health Department will continue its Narcan distribution efforts to reduce overdose deaths throughout the community.
- NOHD will also support community partners that provide essential services to drug users, including harm reduction service providers, as well as buprenorphine and methadone treatment providers.
“The opioid epidemic has been particularly painful in New Orleans, stealing the lives of thousands of individuals and turning the lives of those who have lost people they love upside down,” said Travers Kurr, Manager of Behavioral Health Programs. “While the dramatic reduction in overdose deaths over the past year is a remarkable moment, we still struggle with far too many people dying early from overdose deaths. The decline in deaths does give me a sense of optimism that our work at NOHD and the work and unrelenting commitment of our many partners across the city are on the right path to further reduce preventable deaths.”
Our hope is that with the implementation of these new programs, along with our existing infrastructure, the city will see a further decline in overdose deaths. We aim to ensure that more community members can access the necessary services, ultimately reducing the impact of the opioid epidemic on our city.
Tags: Drug Strategy Opioid Epidemic Recent Study
