Camden County saw significant reduction in overdose rates in 2024

Long term programs and initiatives in treatment and outreach throughout the county save lives

(Gloucester Township, NJ) – Camden County continues to be at the forefront of fighting the opioid and overdose epidemics in New Jersey. The tireless work undertaken by the Board of Commissioners, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Cooper University Health Care and several more local, state and federal agencies has paid off as the county experienced a historic 37% drop in fatal overdoses in 2024.

According to the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner, there were 206 suspected drug deaths in Camden County from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024, compared to 327 during the same time period in 2023.

“The Board of Commissioners has spent years committed to ending the overdose epidemic that has swept across our communities and to see real, positive progress is an incredible feeling,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “The consistent decrease in overdose deaths throughout 2024 shows that investing in a variety of public health and harm reduction resources can make a difference. This is a groundbreaking accomplishment, but it also reminds us that we still have a lot of work to do because even just one life lost to an overdose is one too many. We are more committed than ever to continuing the fight to end the overdose and opioid epidemics here in Camden County.”

In addition to the fall in fatal overdoses, there has also been a decline in Naloxone administrations from 2023 to 2024. According to the NJ Department of Health, between January and December of 2024, there were 1,326 Naloxone administrations given in Camden County as compared to the same period of 2023, when there were 1,683 administrations.

“To date, in Camden County, the number of fatal overdoses has decreased 37% compared with the same date in 2024,” said Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay. “Earlier this week, in Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to meet with our Congressional representatives in both the House and Senate to gain their support on pending legislation crucial to the success in our battle against addiction. The HALT All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act will permanently categorize deadly fentanyl as a Schedule I drug, making it easier to hold drug dealers accountable. Another vital law, the Pill Press Act, will require all pill presses, which are used to manufacture medical pharmaceuticals, to be engraved with serial numbers which will increase our ability to detect and prosecute drug dealers. None of this would be possible without the full commitment of all our Camden County partners. Together we will eradicate the opioid epidemic in our community.”

The fight against the opioid and overdose epidemic kicked off in 2014, when the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force was formed in response to the devastating impact that the opioid crisis has had on the community. This task force is comprised of students, parents, teachers, civic organizations, medical professionals, public health providers, law enforcement and religious leaders. Its main purpose is to increase awareness of opioid abuse and addiction, reduce the demand for these substances, promote available resources for help and support the development of additional resources to treat and prevent addiction to opioids.

“This 37% drop in fatal overdoses is proof that harm reduction strategies and access to medically assisted treatment save lives,” Congressman Donald Norcross said. “Camden County has been a leader in combating the opioid epidemic, and this progress shows what’s possible when we invest in public health and prioritize treatment over stigma. But our work is far from over. Too many families are still losing loved ones. I’ll continue pushing in Congress to use the measures taken by the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force as a model for the rest of the nation.”

Over the course of the last 10 years, Camden County has enacted several transformative initiatives aimed at ending overdose, ending the taboo around talking about addiction and getting those in need proper resources such as rehab, therapy or medically assisted treatment. These efforts include:

• Installing Naloxone boxes in every school, park and county owned building to expand access to this life saving, overdose reversing medication.
• Crafting a nationally recognized Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) program at the Camden County Correctional Facility that has shown to reduce overdoses of participants on a large scale after release.
• Using funds from the Opioid Settlement to introduce a mobile Buprenorphine pilot program where medically assisted treatment is dispensed from an outreach van and provides take home Naloxone kits to overdose and substance use disorder patients treated in emergency departments.
• Launching an extensive fentanyl awareness campaign to raise awareness about what fentanyl is and how deadly it can be.
• Providing free Narcan training sessions, fentanyl test strips, NaloxBoxes for social service organizations and mental health support for those who have lost a loved one to substance use disorder.

Anyone seeking addiction assistance should call 1-844-ReachNJ (732-2465), which provides free professional support for those facing addiction and their loved ones. If you are a Camden County resident suffering from substance use disorder, please call the Office of Mental Health and Addiction at (856) 374-6361.

“We are both humbled and thrilled to witness the consistent and significant reduction in overdose deaths in our county,” said Rachel Haroz, MD, center head for Cooper University Health Care’s Center for Healing. “This achievement is a true testament to the collaboration and dedication of community groups, government partners, and regional healthcare systems. At the Cooper Center for Healing, we remain committed to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care and celebrating this meaningful progress alongside our community.”