The number of annual overdose deaths in Philadelphia dropped sharply last year and appears on track to continue falling, reflecting the ramped-up efforts of healthcare providers to help people in addiction amid the city’s controversial push to address the Kensington drug market.
In 2024, fatalities involving overdoses fell for the second year in a row, down to 1,045, according to the city’s Health Department. That was a 20% decrease from 1,310 the previous year. Deaths had peaked at 1,376 in 2022.
This year, from January to August, there were 469 overdose deaths in the city, according to preliminary data from the state Department of Health. That figure may end up higher once delayed reports come in, but the trend suggests it could be the first year since 2016 that Philadelphia sees fewer than 1,000 OD deaths…