Opioid overdose deaths continue to decline in Erie County

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Photo credit Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. July 29, 2019 (WBEN Photo/Mike Baggerman)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The number of deaths in Erie County as a result of opioids continue to decline from its record high of 301 in 2016.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and members of his administration announced Monday there are 49 confirmed people who died of an opioid overdose this year. Another 41 are still pending the results of toxicology tests.

Deaths as a result of the opioid crisis spiked starting in 2015 when 256 people died. After its 2016 peak, it dropped to 251 in 2017, then 191 last year. The 2018 results were made official last Thursday, according to the Erie County Medical Examiner's Office.

Poloncarz declared the opioid epidemic a public health crisis in Erie County in 2016.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and health officials said opioid deaths are down substantially since 2016 (301 deaths). This year there are 49 confirmed deaths due to opioids and another 41 pending. Poloncarz said they’re not ready to undo the state of emergency yet. pic.twitter.com/b0b6guQmMb

— WBEN NewsRadio 930AM (@NewsRadio930) July 29, 2019

"I am not yet ready to declare the public health crisis over," Poloncarz said. "But we do believe we see a light at the end of the tunnel and it is possible, if we continue with this trend, in 2020 the county executive would be seeing the public health crisis over...We are definitely heading in the right direction."

There is no concrete number that would end the public health crisis, according to Poloncarz, who said it will end once he receives a recommendation from Michael Ranney, the Commissioner of Mental Health, and Dr. Gale Burstein, the Commissioner of Health. He said it could end as early as next year.