While deaths due to drug overdoses have declined after spiking in 2021, almost 200 people in Essex County lost their lives due to overdose in 2024. Admissions to treatment have begun to rise after a sharp decline through 2021.
Overdose deaths decline
The rate of overdose deaths in Essex County has declined 36% from 3.6 (2018) to 2.3 (2024) per 10,000 residents. Essex’s rate in 2024 was similar to both the state (2.2) and the nation (2.3) but higher than comparable counties, which range from 1.0 to 1.8. These figures include deaths from all types of drugs, and both accidental and intentional deaths. The fatality rate in Essex County has declined from a high of 4.0 in 2021.
Treatment slowly increasing
Admissions to drug treatment in Essex County have begun to rise after a sharp decline through 2022. Admissions fell 46% from 2018 to a low of 87 per 10,000 residents in 2021 and 2022. Rates began to increase in 2023 (89) and 2024 (101).
Heroin and other opioids drive most treatment admissions in Essex County, followed by alcohol, similar to the county and state. However, since 2018, admissions for alcohol, and heroin and other opioids have decreased while admissions for cocaine use have increased slightly.
Countywide, drug-related arrests have declined slightly
Countywide, the rate of arrests per 1,000 residents was 0.9 in 2024, a slight decrease from 2020 when it was 1.0. While the overall countywide rate has held relatively steady, it masks some trends at the local level. For example, the drug related arrest rate in Lawrence declined 68% from 5.0 in 2020 to 1.6 in 2024, while the rate in Lynn increased 70% from 1.0 in 2020 to 1.7 in 2024. Rates in Haverhill and Lawrence have consistently remained above the county average during this same time period.
Drug abuse has far-reaching effects
The available data only tell part of the story – we know that addiction has far-reaching effects. Addiction, overdoses, and arrests all disrupt the life of the user and their family, exacting health, financial and emotional costs.