Opioid overdose deaths plummeted for addicts in Staten Island's revolutionary treatment program, new research is as authorities are trying to expand it to save more lives.
New data from the initiative shows that there were two fatal overdose of 612 people participating in the “Hot Spotting” program compared to 14 deaths of 1,089 addicts.
“As the Five Alarm Fire of Fentanyl and Overdose Crisis continues to rage, we must leave a stone that has been inverted in our pursuit to save lives and end this deadly epidemic.”
“Our hot spotting initiative has prevented countless overdose while ensuring that some of Staten Island's most at-risk population are given the treatment and overall support they need to improve their lives to get better.”
Participants were identified as at a high risk of ODING by using an analytical tool developed by Northwell Health's Staten Island Performing Provider System using MIT.
The “second year” results from April 2023 to April 2024 showed a 77% reduction in fatal overdose in participants.
The analysis also showed a 36% reduction in nonfatal overdose and a 63% reduction in substance use disorder-related emergency room visits compared to opioid users not included in the program.
The findings reveal that 98% of clients received harm mitigation services, including access to naloxone kits, xylazine, fentanyl test strips, sterile syringes and syringe replacement programs.
Furthermore, according to the analysis, 100% of clients were certified recovery peer advocates and 99% completed their social care screening.
These screenings link patients to mental health, healthcare, social services, and addiction treatment.
The Staten Island Performance Provider System (SI PPS) is a joint collaboration with nine Staten Island organizations, including the Staten Island District Attorney's Office, Staten Island University Hospital in Northwell Health, and other community-based groups fighting the opioid crisis.
Hotspotting has launched a national advisory board and will expand to other parts of the city, according to program organizers and sponsors.
The Robin Hood Foundation, the city's largest local poverty charity committee, is one of the people who participate in the board.
“Overdominance rates require urgent data-driven solutions. Hot spotting programs prove it.
“We are pleased to announce that we are committed to providing a range of services to our customers,” said Dr. Brahim Ardolic, president of Staten Island University Hospital, and senior VP of Northwell Health.
“Staten Island is leading the way, and this model needs to be expanded across New York.”
Former Staten Island MP Max Rose helped launch the program when he took office, but the results “clearly demonstrated that it is a major overdose prevention initiative across the country.”
“This demonstrable success in Phase 2 of the program encourages payers and health systems to adopt this innovative approach,” Rose said.
In 2023, overdose deaths in New York City were 3,046. A 1% decrease from 3,070 in 2022 indicates the first decline in deaths since 2018.
Over that period, Staten Island's OD mortality rate increased from 38.2 to 40.1 per 100,000 residents.
In 2023, Bronx residents had the highest overdose mortality rate among the city's boroughs, at 78 per 100,000 residents.
There were 616 overdose deaths in the first quarter of 2024, the lowest record quarter since 2020.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 30-50 times stronger than heroin, was present in 80% of overdose deaths in 2023 and remained the most common substance involved in overdose deaths.
Xylazine, a potent non-opioid sedative, was involved in 31% of deaths caused by opioid-involved overdose in 2023, up from 22% in 2022.
“Overdodes continue to be a public health emergency. Every four hours, someone dies from a drug overdose in New York City,” the Health Department said.
