Deadly dose: Cocaine laced with fentanyl is killing people

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Drug overdose deaths are down for the first time in years in New York City, but the Chief Medical Examiner is urging people not to let their guard down.

"We are cautiously optimistic," said NYC Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham. "But we're still in the midst of a crisis."

Four-hundred ninety-eight people died of a drug overdose in New York City in the third quarter of 2024, the last year the data is available. That's the lowest level of overdose deaths for a quarter since 2020.

While deaths are down, fentanyl and a new lethal combo of fentanyl is still responsible for a majority of the overdoses.

"We're still seeing fentanyl in roughly 80% of our overdose deaths," said Dr. Graham.

Fentanyl was also responsible for roughly 80% of the overdose deaths during the peak of the crisis in 2022.

Just two milligrams of the manmade and highly addictive drug fentanyl can be deadly.

"We've seen fentanyl in combination with many other drugs," said Dr. Graham. "One concerning trend has been the increase number of deaths involving a combination of cocaine and fentanyl."

Drug Enforcement Agents say oftentimes users don't know the fentanyl has been mixed in to the drug.

"Any drug that you obtain either online or on the street has the potential to contain fentanyl and likely does contain fentanyl and has the potential to kill you," said Dr. Graham.

The Medical Examiner's office is also tracking an increase in the drug xylazine or "tranq" as it's called.

It's being mixed with other drugs like fentanyl. The medical examiner said it's found in 20% of local overdoses deaths.

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