Dramatic drop in fentanyl deaths in Cattaraugus County continues

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

OLEAN — Cattaraugus County opioid overdose deaths were down dramatically in 2024 and show signs — so far — of being lower again this year.

Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins said last week there were nine opioid deaths recorded in 2024, less than one-third of the 28 overdose deaths in 2023.

So far in 2025, there have been two opioid overdose deaths reported by the New York State Department of Health. One possible overdose death is pending, awaiting test results, Watkins said.

Last year local health officials were ecstatic over the drop in fentanyl-based overdose deaths from 28 in 2023 to nine last year.

“Something has happened,” Watkins told members of the Cattaraugus County Board of Health on May 7.

Watkins credits the community’s embracing the use of Narcan, an opioid antidote, for the drop in overdose deaths. Stepped-up enforcement may also be responsible for some of the drop in opioid deaths.

Besides police and other first responders use of Narcan when alerted to an overdose, the opioid antidote is widely available and in use by trained family members of people addicted to opioids. Many addicts make sure a friend with Narcan is with them when they use drugs that can contain amounts of fentanyl, Watkins said.

The county Health Department has also made fentanyl test strips available in another harm reduction measure, Watkins said. Also, more medically-assisted treatment is available locally.

All this has contributed to the drop in local opioid overdose deaths.

It follows a similar trend across most of the U.S. In 2024, drug deaths dropped 24% from 114,000 in 2023 to 87,000.

The deaths this year have been at private residences in the cities of Olean and Salamanca. One fentanyl overdose death was reported in March and in April. A second death in April is suspected to be opioid-related.

Last year most fentanyl and non-fentanyl opioid overdose deaths were at private residences except one 31-year-old man whose body was found in a dumpster in Olean and a man who was found to have overdosed in an empty field in Olean.

All but two of the overdose deaths last year were men ranging in age from 31 to 62. The female overdose victims were ages 35 and 43.

Of the nine deaths in 2024, four fentanyl deaths and one non-fentanyl death were in Olean; two fentanyl deaths were in Salamanca and a fentanyl death and a non-fentanyl overdose were reported in Freedom.

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