The New Orleans Overdose Crisis

For the past several years, the number of deaths attributed to overdose in Orleans Parish have persistently reached record highs. Between 2019 and 2023, accidental drug related deaths more than doubled, and the majority of those individuals had fentanyl in their system.

Fentanyl is an opioid pain reliever that is much stronger than other opioids. Because it is cheap to make and a small amount goes a long way, fentanyl that is illegally made and sold has become more common. It has also become increasingly common for individuals to accidentally consume fentanyl while using other drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine, putting anyone who uses illicit drugs at risk. Because it is so easy to get a high dose without realizing it, it makes it much more likely that someone might accidentally overdose.

New Orleans' Response to the Overdose Crisis

In response to rising deaths, the City of New Orleans has attempted to address this crisis through a community-based action plan. This includes:

• Issuing a standing order to pharmacists for naloxone to be available without a prescription
• Providing New Orleans EMS, Fire Department, and Police Department with naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose
• More options to safely get rid of unwanted prescription medicines
• Providing Opioid Overdose Response trainings to the general public
• Regular street outreach with Narcan distribution in areas with high rates of overdoses
• Supporting the passage of local ordinances that legalize syringe service programs and drug testing strips
• Partnering with the Orleans Parish District Attorney's office to implement an Overdose Fatality Review panel.

Bystander Response Trainings

The New Orleans Health Department offers three different community trainings aimed at empowering individuals with the knowledge to save lives:  

• Overdose Response,
• Stop the Bleed, and
• Hand-Only CPR.  

The Overdose Response training helps individuals recognize the signs and symptoms of a possible overdose and how to administer the life-saving medication Narcan. NOHD’s Stop the Bleed training empowers individuals to immediately respond to individuals with dangerous lacerations and significant bleeding to stabilize individuals’ wounds before Emergency Medical Services is able to arrive on scene. The Hands-Only CPR class teaches individuals how to provide chest compressions and utilize Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for individuals experiencing a cardiac arrest.

These trainings are provided for free by New Orleans Health Department staff. Trainings are typically provided to small groups.

Request a Training Session

Annual Opioid Report

The New Orleans Health Department 2023 Annual Opioid Report provides more detail about the City's plans for addressing the overdose crisis through multiple approaches and how Orleans Parish plans to utilize its Opioid Settlement Funds for opioid-related activities in 2024.

Download the 2023 Annual Opioid Report