Overdose Awareness in Cortland County: Local and National Trends
Each year, August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day. The observance is both a moment to review current trends and an opportunity to highlight effective local responses, including our work in harm reduction and community outreach here at RHI.
National Context
Provisional data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics estimates that there were 80,391 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2024, a 27% decrease from the 110,037 deaths reported in 2023. This represents the lowest annual total since 2019. Most states throughout the U.S. experienced year-over-year declines in overdose deaths, with some states reporting reductions of 35% or more. In New York State (excluding NYC), overdose deaths fell by 38% in 2024 compared with the previous year.
Cortland County Trends
Cortland County data reflect similar improvements. Fatal overdoses have declined steadily since 2021:
2021: 17 fatal overdoses
2022: 11 fatal overdoses (35% decrease from 2021)
2023: 10 fatal overdoses (9% decrease from 2022)
2024: 2 fatal overdoses (80% decrease from 2023; 88% decrease from 2021)
Cortland County’s steady decline in overdose deaths reflects the same progress seen statewide and across the country. Although small numbers can fluctuate year-to-year, the consistent decline since 2021 underscores the impact of local harm reduction and prevention efforts.
RHI’s Harm Reduction Efforts
RHI, first as Cortland Area Communities That Care and now as the Rural Health Institute of New York has been supporting harm reduction in Cortland County for over a decade. More recently we have received two state grants to form our Harm Reduction Team. The Harm Reduction Team at RHI provides outreach, care navigation, supply distribution, and education to the local community. Core services include:
Naloxone distribution and overdose response training - In the first half of 2025, the team distributed 654 naloxone kits and trained 479 community members.
Fentanyl and xylazine test strip distribution - During the same period, 1,335 fentanyl and 1,350 xylazine test strips were provided to participants and community members.
Connecting participants to treatment, housing, medical care, and community resources - The team made 141 referrals for 81 unique participants.
Providing one-on-one guidance and support - A total of 1,107 individual services were provided to 120 participants.
Conducting community-level outreach and training - The team hosted 29 sessions, reaching 615 participants with harm reduction education, program promotion, and community mobilization.
These interventions aim to reduce mortality and improve public health outcomes, reflecting the same evidence-based principles that guide state and national harm reduction efforts.
Our Harm Reduction Team:
RHI’s harm reduction services are carried out by a dedicated team that combines lived experience, professional expertise, and deep community ties. Together they work to reduce overdose risk in Cortland County:
Dean O’Gorman, Care Navigator - Provides one-on-one assistance, education and support to participants as they work to connect with treatment, housing, benefits, and medical care while advocating for them as they work towards their goals and navigate complex systems.
Jessica McGuire, Engagement Coordinator - Leads outreach efforts in the community and fosters collaborative partnerships to respond to local needs, including expanding distribution of harm reduction supplies, promoting person-centered and compassionate approaches to engagement with individuals who use substances, and offering targeted education to individuals and community groups on harm reduction, substance use disorder treatment and related topics.
Hallie Sebastian, Harm Reduction Educator - Develops educational materials and facilitates training for diverse audiences in the community, from brief naloxone demonstrations at local events to in-depth, compassionate overdose response and stigma reduction presentations to community stakeholders.
Sara Watrous, Project Director - Supervises the team and guides program development, ensuring services align with state and organizational goals.
Together, the team provides both individual-level supports and community-level services, while prioritizing those most at risk of overdose.
Accessing Support
Individuals seeking support can connect with RHI’s Harm Reduction Team for supplies, education, or referrals to care. Assistance is not limited to treatment; it also includes practical support such as wound care materials, housing navigation, or peer-based recovery groups. The team can also be found at various local community events and periodic pop-up trainings around Cortland County.
One of the most direct interventions available to the community is naloxone (Narcan) training. Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal agent that can be administered by non-medical personnel. RHI offers both brief (5 - 10 minute) and extended (30 - 60 minute) training sessions, equipping community members with knowledge and access to this life-saving resource.
If you are interested in having our team come to your business for a training event, or if you are an individual seeking support, please contact us at outreach@nyrhi.org
Sustaining Progress
Overdose mortality has declined both nationally and locally, with Cortland County showing an 88% reduction in fatal overdoses from 2021 to 2024. Sustaining this progress will depend on continued access to harm reduction services, expanded community-level training, and active community engagement. International Overdose Awareness Day provides an opportunity to celebrate these successes, confront ongoing challenges, and renew our commitment to evidence-based prevention strategies that save lives.