The opioid overdose crisis in New York: a study on the impacts of policy, demographics, and treatment access

Abstract

There is a notable gap in research examining the opioid epidemic between 2016 and 2021, particularly across all counties in New York state. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the factors contributing to opioid overdose deaths, focusing on demographics, drug-related crime, healthcare events, and policy. The model reveals that opioid overdose death rates are higher across counties with larger populations of Hispanic or Latino, Asian, and multiracial populations, highlighting potential disparities in substance abuse treatment access. Additionally, the findings show that healthcare visits for opioid overdose or abuse are associated with increasing mortality rates, suggesting a lack of coordinated care across counties. However, the interaction between healthcare facility visits for opioid abuse and admissions to OASAS-certified drug treatment programs is associated with a decrease in opioid overdose deaths. This is likely due to the effectiveness of these certified programs in preventing overdose, even in the rare instances when coordinated care is employed. Surprisingly, drug misdemeanor charges are correlated to a reduction in overdose deaths, possibly reflecting the success of drug diversion programs that offer treatment over incarceration. Conversely, the legalization of recreational marijuana and the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly associated with higher overdose death rates, potentially due to shifts in drug-use patterns, increased substance availability, and disruptions in addiction treatment services. These findings emphasize the need for sustained access to healthcare and highlight critical gaps in treatment and intervention efforts across New York State. Keywords: Business Analytics, Opioid Overdose, Mixed-effects model, COVID-19 pandemic