Between 2014 and 2021, the average annual crude rate of overdose among upstate NY counties was  17.6/100,000.  The average rate in Greene County for the same time period was about 1.5 times higher than the upstate average (25.5/100,000).

In 2021, the upstate NY crude rate of overdose was 23.5 and the rate in Greene County was 46.3,  almost double the average of upstate NY counties.

42 Greene County residents died of overdose between 2019 and 2021.  50% of those deaths occurred in 2021, alone.

*Compared to the figure above, Vital Statistics data include deaths among Greene County residents that occurred in any county.  Source: NYS County Opioid Quarterly Report

Combining data from ODMAP with data from the County Coroner, yields an approximate fatality rate.  The true fatality rate could only be smaller, as the number of fatalities is fixed (the numerator) and the number of total overdoses could only be larger (the denominator).  Annual fatality rates for Greene County should be interpreted with caution due to varying levels of first responder participation with the ODMAP data system.  Based on available data, the average fatality rate in 2019 was 25%; in 2020 it was 8%.  In 2021 the average fatality rate was 18% and in 2022 it is 13%.

Not all overdose events are captured by ODMAP.  Record entry may vary by county based on independent protocols for entering records.  Overdoses may also occur with no first responder intervention and therefore would not be entered into ODMAP at all.  Based on available information*, overdose volume has increased by 94% in Greene County between 2019 and 2022.

*Available information includes overdose events for which a first responder was on scene and entered overdose information into ODMAP.

Overdose death rates are still rising because the drug supply is more poisoned than ever before. None deaths in Greene County in 2022 involved heroin.  Fentanyl is the substance most often implicated in overdose deaths, alone or in combination with other substances. In Greene County, 91% of overdose deaths 2022 involved fentanyl.  Fewer deaths involved stimulants than in Columbia County (27% in Greene compared to 57% in Columbia).

Anyone who may be at risk of witnessing or experiencing an overdose can obtain naloxone free of charge by texting NARCANKIT to 21000.

In 2022, most overdose deaths in Greene County occurred in people in their 40s (54%) or in their 20s (18%).  An additional 9% of deaths occurred in people in their 30s.

More males than females died of overdose in Greene County last year.  82% of overdose deaths were among males.

The majority of overdose deaths in Greene County last year were among White/Caucasian people (90.9%).  The remaining 9.1% of deaths were among Black/African American people.

There were 55 deaths to overdose in Greene County between 2019 and 2022.  Of those, 47% occurred in Region 1, 14% were in Region 2, 18% were in Region 4, 13% were in Region 5 and 7% were in Region 6.  There were 0 deaths in Region 3.

Between 2019 and 2022, there have been 401 overdose events entered into ODMAP in Greene County.  Of those, 58% are in Region 1, 16% are in Region 2, 13% are in Region 3, 13% are in Region 4, 5% are in Region 5 and 1% are in Region 6.

Greene County uses ODMAP data to monitor overdoses daily.  When the volume of daily overdoses passes a threshold that may indicate a particularly risky substance may be present locally, a ‘spike alert’ is generated.  Anyone who may be at risk of overdose should carry naloxone and always practice harm reduction.  During a ‘spike alert’ the risk of overdose is particularly high.

Anyone who may be at risk of witnessing or experiencing an overdose can obtain naloxone free of charge by texting NARCANKIT to 21000.

Sign up for overdose spike alerts.