RI overdoses dropped in 2023, but, 'We have a lot more work to do'

PROVIDENCE – Deaths from accidental overdoses decreased last year in Rhode Island, the first time in four years that the number has gone down.

The 7.3% decrease was announced on Wednesday by Gov. Dan McKee and leaders of the Governor's Overdose Task Force.

“While we have a lot more work to do, today’s announcement offers some encouragement for us as we move forward with our work to prevent overdoses and save lives,” McKee said.

Last year, 404 people died from accidental overdoses in Rhode Island, down from 436 in 2022, according to figures provided by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

"My heart breaks for each and every person who has lost a loved one to this epidemic," McKee said. "We owe it to the Rhode Islanders who have passed, and to their families, to do everything possible to prevent any additional overdose deaths."

Nationally, overdose deaths decreased by 3%.

Which drugs are involved?

Opioids and fentanyl are still driving "the overdose epidemic" in Rhode Island, the Health Department said. In 2023, 85% of overdoses involved any opioid, including fentanyl, while 78% involved fentanyl, the Health Department said.

Fifty-eight percent of the fatal overdoses involved cocaine, according to the Health Department. In those cases, the department said, it's unclear whether the overdose victim knew they were using more than one substance.

The decrease in overdose deaths here was "supported by a whole-of-government approach and the work of community organizations, healthcare professionals, and people at the local level," the Health Department said.

How is RI addressing the problem?

The statewide effort is coordinated by the Governor's Overdose Task Force and "built around the pillars of prevention, rescue and harm reduction, treatment, and recovery," the Health Department said.

The state is addressing the epidemic in a variety of ways. For example, the Health Department has set up supply hubs where community organizations can get free naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdose. In 2023, 49,808 naloxone kits were distributed, a 36% increase over 2022, the Health Department said.

In 2022, through the work of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha's office, Rhode Island joined a national opioid settlement with three major opioid distributors, providing more than $90 million for state and local efforts at harm reduction, treatment and recovery, the Health Department said.

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The state is also continuing public education on the risks of fentanyl, xylazine, and stimulants, and how to connect people to free harm reduction resources, the Health Department said.

“We are working in every city and town in Rhode Island to make life-saving resources available in the areas of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, rescue, and recovery,” said Dr. Jerry Larkin, director of the Health Department.

"Every single overdose death is preventable. Recovery is within reach for every person living with the disease of addiction," Larkin said. "We need to keep coming together as families, as communities, and as a state to continue reducing the number of drug overdose deaths in Rhode Island."

Information on treatment, recovery and harm reduction services is available at the website PreventOverdoseRI.org.