Brooklyn Drug Overdoses Increased 22% In 2022: Data

BROOKLYN, NY — Nearly 800 people died of fatal overdoses in Brooklyn last year, representing the sharpest annual increase in New York City.

In 2022, some 792 overdoses happened in the borough — a 21.8 percent increase over 2021, new city data show.

The dataset differentiated between deaths that occurred inside the borough and deaths among Brooklyn residents — and found that 692 Brooklynites died across the city in 2022, representing an 18 percent increase over 2021.

Fentanyl and/or heroine was present in 83 percent of the deaths that happened in Brooklyn, the data show. Some 51 percent involved cocaine.

The Williamsburg and Bushwick area lead the borough in overdoses among residents, with 57.5 deaths per every 100,000 residents. Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights trailed just behind with 53.6 resident deaths per every 100,000, according to the provisional data.

A report released this month by the city's health department found that New York City saw 3,026 overdose deaths in 2022, a 12 percent rise over the previous year, the data show.

Fentanyl was present in 81 percent of those deaths, and cocaine was present in 53 percent, the data shows.

The numbers prompted Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan to issue an advisory for city dwellers, providers and people who use drugs.

The overdose data also showed disparities.

Black New Yorkers, for example, had the highest rate of overdose deaths, with those between the ages of 55 and 84 showing the highest levels, the data showed.

Vasan's advisory recommended that New Yorkers:

• Carry naloxone and know how to use it
• Talk to loved ones about substance use and overdose risk
• Avoid using drugs alone
• Keep all drugs, including medications, safely stored

"We’re all in this together," he said.

Patch writer Matt Troutman contributed to this report.