New Jersey Overdose Deaths: Trends, Data, and Dashboard
New Jersey Overdose Deaths: Trends, Data, and Dashboard
Key Takeaways
- New Jersey recorded approximately 2,900 suspected drug-related deaths in 2022, according to the NJ Department of Health (2023).
- Fentanyl or fentanyl analogs were involved in approximately 77% of NJ drug-related deaths in 2022 (NJ Department of Health, 2023).
- NJ’s age-adjusted overdose death rate was 33.1 per 100,000 in 2022, above the national average of 32.6 (CDC WONDER, 2023).
- Camden, Atlantic, and Cape May counties consistently report among the highest per-capita overdose death rates in the state (NJ Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner, 2023).
- Xylazine was detected in approximately 25% of unintentional drug deaths in NJ in 2022, up from under 5% in 2019 (NJ CARES data, 2023).
- NJ distributed over 700,000 doses of naloxone statewide between 2019 and 2023, according to the NJ Department of Human Services (2024).
Statistics updated quarterly. Last reviewed March 28, 2026.
New Jersey has been one of the states most affected by the evolving drug overdose crisis. The state experienced a dramatic escalation in overdose deaths during the late 2010s, driven primarily by the infiltration of illicitly manufactured fentanyl into the drug supply. This page presents the most current data on NJ overdose deaths, the substances driving them, county-level patterns, and the public tools available for tracking this data in real time.
New Jersey Overdose Death Trends
Annual Death Totals and Year-Over-Year Changes
New Jersey’s drug overdose death trajectory has followed the broader national pattern but with state-specific features. According to the NJ Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner (OCSME) and the NJ Department of Health:
- 2015: Approximately 1,587 confirmed drug-related deaths.
- 2017: Deaths peaked initially at 2,781, a 75% increase from 2015.
- 2018: A slight decline to 2,583 deaths.
- 2020: Deaths surged to 3,046, the highest annual total on record, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2021: Deaths remained elevated at approximately 2,994.
- 2022: Approximately 2,900 suspected drug-related deaths, a modest decline from the 2020-2021 peak.
(Sources: NJ OCSME Annual Reports, 2016-2023; NJ Department of Health Suspected Drug Related Deaths data, 2023.)
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to treatment, harm reduction services, and social support systems, which researchers have identified as contributing factors to the 2020 surge. A study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas found that states with pandemic-related treatment disruptions saw sharper increases in overdose deaths than those that maintained service continuity (Friedman et al., 2022).
How NJ Compares to National Trends
Nationally, the CDC estimated approximately 107,941 drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period ending in June 2023, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) provisional data. NJ’s age-adjusted rate of 33.1 per 100,000 in 2022 placed the state slightly above the national average of 32.6, according to CDC WONDER (2023).
NJ ranks in the middle tier of states by overdose death rate. States like West Virginia (81.4 per 100,000), Tennessee (56.6), and Louisiana (55.9) have significantly higher rates. States like Nebraska (11.2), South Dakota (12.8), and Iowa (14.3) have significantly lower rates, based on CDC WONDER data (2023).
Substances Driving NJ Overdose Deaths
Fentanyl and Synthetic Opioids
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has become the dominant driver of overdose deaths in New Jersey. According to the NJ Department of Health’s Suspected Drug Related Deaths dashboard (2023), fentanyl or fentanyl analogs were detected in approximately 77% of drug-related deaths in 2022.
This represents a dramatic shift from a decade earlier. In 2013, heroin was the primary opioid involved in NJ overdose deaths, with fentanyl present in fewer than 10% of cases. By 2018, fentanyl had surpassed heroin as the most frequently detected opioid in fatalities (NJ OCSME, 2019). By 2022, many deaths attributed to “heroin” likely involved fentanyl-contaminated or fentanyl-substituted products, as illicit heroin has been largely displaced by fentanyl in the northeastern US drug supply, according to DEA intelligence assessments (DEA, 2023).
Polysubstance Combinations
A substantial proportion of NJ overdose deaths involve multiple substances. The NJ OCSME reported that in 2022, approximately 62% of drug-related deaths involved two or more substances (NJ OCSME, 2023). Common combinations included:
- Fentanyl combined with cocaine (detected in approximately 30% of polysubstance deaths).
- Fentanyl combined with benzodiazepines, both prescription and illicit (approximately 20%).
- Fentanyl combined with methamphetamine (a growing trend, though less common in NJ than in western states).
Polysubstance use complicates both prevention and emergency response. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose but does not counteract stimulant or benzodiazepine toxicity, which means that polysubstance overdoses may require more complex medical intervention (NIDA, 2023).
Xylazine and Emerging Threats
Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer not approved for human use, has emerged as a significant adulterant in NJ’s illicit drug supply. According to NJ CARES data (2023), xylazine was detected in approximately 25% of unintentional drug deaths in New Jersey in 2022, a dramatic increase from under 5% in 2019.
Xylazine presents particular dangers because it is not an opioid and is not reversed by naloxone. It causes severe sedation, respiratory depression, and a distinctive pattern of skin ulceration at injection sites. The FDA classified xylazine as an emerging threat in 2023, and the Biden administration designated fentanyl combined with xylazine a national emerging drug threat in April 2023 (White House ONDCP, 2023).
In NJ, the Department of Health has incorporated xylazine detection into its overdose surveillance protocols, and several NJ harm reduction organizations have begun distributing wound care kits alongside naloxone (NJ Department of Health, 2023).
County-by-County Overdose Data
Highest-Rate Counties in NJ
Overdose death rates vary substantially across New Jersey’s 21 counties. According to the NJ OCSME and NJ CARES data (2022):
Counties with highest age-adjusted overdose death rates (per 100,000):
- Atlantic County: approximately 58.2
- Cape May County: approximately 53.8
- Camden County: approximately 48.1
- Cumberland County: approximately 45.7
- Salem County: approximately 42.3
Counties with lower overdose death rates:
- Hunterdon County: approximately 14.8
- Somerset County: approximately 16.2
- Morris County: approximately 18.7
(Source: NJ OCSME county-level data, 2023; NJ CARES dashboard, 2023.)
Geographic Patterns and Disparities
The county-level data reveals a pattern in which southern NJ counties and counties with significant urban-suburban drug market overlap tend to report higher rates. Atlantic County, which includes Atlantic City, and Camden County, which includes the city of Camden, have consistently ranked among the highest-rate counties in the state (NJ OCSME, 2019-2023).
Northern NJ suburban counties such as Morris, Somerset, and Hunterdon tend to report lower per-capita rates, though these areas are not unaffected. Bergen and Essex counties, despite moderate per-capita rates, account for substantial absolute numbers of deaths due to their larger populations (NJ CARES, 2023).
The geographic distribution also reflects disparities in treatment access, poverty rates, and proximity to major drug distribution corridors. A 2021 analysis by the NJ Department of Health found that counties with fewer MAT providers per capita tended to have higher overdose death rates, though the relationship was not perfectly linear (NJ DOH, 2021).
The NJ CARES Overdose Dashboard
What the Dashboard Tracks
The NJ Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies (NJ CARES) maintains a publicly accessible overdose data dashboard. This tool aggregates data from multiple sources, including the NJ OCSME, emergency medical services (EMS), emergency department visits, and naloxone administration records.
Key data points available through the NJ CARES dashboard include:
- Suspected drug-related deaths by county and municipality.
- Naloxone administration events by EMS and law enforcement.
- Emergency department visits for suspected overdose.
- Substance-specific breakdowns where toxicology data is available.
The dashboard is updated on a rolling basis, though there is typically a lag of several months between the occurrence of a death and its appearance in confirmed toxicology data. Suspected death counts are available more quickly (NJ CARES, 2024).
How to Use the Dashboard
The NJ CARES dashboard is accessible through the NJ Department of Human Services website. It allows users to filter data by county, time period, substance, and demographic characteristics. The dashboard is designed for use by public health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and community members seeking local-level data.
For community organizations and families seeking to understand local overdose trends, the county-level suspected death count and naloxone administration data provide the most accessible and actionable information. The NJ CARES system also feeds into the NJ Overdose Prevention Plan, which is updated annually (NJ Department of Human Services, 2024).
New Jersey’s Response and Policy Actions
Naloxone Distribution Expansion
New Jersey has implemented several policy measures to expand naloxone access. In 2017, Governor Christie signed a standing order allowing any NJ resident to obtain naloxone from a pharmacy without an individual prescription (NJ Executive Order, 2017). This was extended and strengthened under Governor Murphy’s administration.
Between 2019 and 2023, New Jersey distributed over 700,000 doses of naloxone statewide through pharmacies, harm reduction organizations, and direct community distribution, according to the NJ Department of Human Services (2024). The state also expanded naloxone training for law enforcement, with all NJ police officers now required to carry and be trained in naloxone administration.
Harm Reduction and Treatment Expansion
Beyond naloxone, NJ has expanded its response infrastructure in several ways:
- NJ’s Opioid Recovery Fund has directed settlement funds from pharmaceutical litigation toward treatment expansion and prevention programs (NJ Attorney General’s Office, 2023).
- Medicaid expansion under the ACA has significantly increased treatment access for low-income NJ residents. NJ’s Medicaid program covers all FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder, including buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone (NJ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, 2023).
- Good Samaritan Law: NJ’s Overdose Prevention Act provides legal protections for individuals who call 911 during an overdose, reducing a key barrier to seeking emergency help (NJ P.L. 2013, c.46).
- Harm reduction centers: NJ authorized the establishment of harm reduction centers in 2022, though implementation has been gradual and site selection remains under discussion (NJ Department of Health, 2023).
This page is part of the Addiction Statistics, Research, and Recovery Data guide on NJ Addiction Centers.
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