expanded access to naloxone is one of the factors experts say led to New Jersey's first year-over-year decrease in fatal drug overdoses in this last decade but those improvements aren't the same across the board as Melissa Rose Cooper reports there are still spikes happening in vulnerable communities drug addiction continues to be a huge problem in New Jersey but there are signs the crisis could be improving as the state recorded its first year-over-year decline in drug overdose deaths in a decade it's great news it's something that we really want to celebrate Community response a recent report from the chief State medical examiner shows just under 2 900 people died in 2022 from suspected drug use that's down from roughly 3 100 the prior year Caitlin O'Neill co-director at New Jersey harm reduction Coalition credits the drop to an increased availability of naloxone which is used to reverse the effects of opioids people knowing that they can safely legally carry and use naloxone um and so a lot of that is due in part to the many amazing organizations throughout the state who distribute naloxone who train on naloxone and also to the bills that were passed last year making that lock Zone access steady and legal for everyone but while overall drug-related deaths are down in the Garden State they're still increasing in Black communities as well as among senior residents according to the medical examiner's office fatal overdoses among black new jerseyans were up 28 between 2021 and 2022 and for residents 55 and older it increased by 31 percent we have a very strong historical Legacy across the country of disparities in access to drug abuse treatment and that has existed in New Jersey it exists pretty much across the country uh and and uh uh that is definitely a contributing factor the thing that mostly impacts situations like this is um stigma and um the accessibility of individuals to naloxone or accessibility for education in those two communities so they would know what to do in case of a drug overdose or um even the education on the usage of opioids which Leslie Harrison says can be even more difficult for seniors to get since many of them are also dealing with changes to their body as they get older the eyesight understanding um medication regiments and they sometimes have so many medications to take the addition of one more uh makes it difficult for them on their eating habits and exercise these both play uh important part on the how the opioid is used and distributed in their bodies Advocates also say there are a number of other drugs available that can be used instead of opioids so having more access to resources in all communities will give residents the ability to ask the right questions when it comes to their care and ultimately save more lives for NJ Spotlight news I'm Melissa Rose Cooper