ALBANY, N.Y. (WENY) – Monday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that opioid overdose deaths outside of New York City declined by nearly 16% in 2018 compared to 2017.

According to Cuomo's office, this is the first decrease in 10 years.

After years of rising opioid-related overdose deaths among New York State residents, 2018 reportedly saw a drop – from 2,170 deaths in 2018 – to 1,824 – a 15.9% decrease, according to preliminary State Health Department data covering areas outside New York City.

Additionally, according to the most recent New York State County Opioid Quarterly Report, hospitalizations for opioid related overdoses decreased 7.1% – from 3,260 in 2017 to 3,029 in 2018.

"New York's first reduction in opioid overdose deaths in over ten years is an important milestone and demonstrates our work to combat this deadly scourge is working," Governor Cuomo said. "And while New York has taken the most aggressive actions to combat the opioid crisis of any other state in the country, the opioid epidemic continues to devastate too many families and we will not rest until we put an end to it once and for all."

In 2016, the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force convened and proposed new, non-traditional services including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, Centers of Treatment Innovation, mobile treatment, telehealth and 24/7 open access centers to provide assessments and referral to care. According to Cuomo's office, these services have been established in numerous communities around the state and have “helped people in need access care closer to where they live”. Governor Cuomo reconvened the task force in his 2019 State of the State proposals.

"New York is reducing overdose deaths for the first time in years, and while we acknowledge the tremendous progress we've made, we know all too well the devastating impact opioid addiction is still having on our families and communities," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the Heroin and Opioid Task Force. "Our Heroin and Opioid Task Force Progress Report details three years of work and improvements to combat the opioid crisis and protect and save lives. We are committed to continuing that work to ensure that all opioid-related services get to where they are needed most and end this epidemic once and for all."