Opioid overdose stats for Nov. 2024: Manchester trending toward lowest OD numbers since 2020
Manchester is projected to have 22% less suspected opioid overdoses in 2024 than the previous year. Nashua is projected to have 17% less suspected opioid overdoses in 2024 than previous year.
Below are charts showing suspected opioid OD statistics for Nashua & Manchester for November 2024.
I have also included updated charts of EMS responses to the three unhoused persons shelters in Manchester which look at the number of suspected opioid ODs and overall EMS demand.
AMR medics responded to a total of 55 suspected opioid ODs in Nashua and Manchester during November 2024; 42 in Manchester and 13 in Nashua.
Five of the November opioid ODs were suspected opioid OD deaths; four of them were in Manchester and 1 in Nashua. Nashua had gone two consecutive months without a suspected opioid OD death.
Through the first 11 months of 2024, the number of suspected opioid overdoses in both Nashua and Manchester continues to be significantly lower than last year. Manchester is trending towards the lowest annual amount of suspected opioid overdoses since the record low 2020 year. Nashua is trending toward the lowest annual number of suspected opioid ODs since we began tracking them in 2015.
Manchester is projected to have 22% less suspected opioid overdoses in 2024 than the previous year. Nashua is projected to have 17% less suspected opioid overdoses in 2024 than previous year.
Manchester is projected to have 17% less suspected opioid deaths in 2024 than the previous year. Nashua is projected to have 44% less deaths in 2024 than the previous year. These drops in opioid overdose death percentages appear to be consistent with the statewide death statistics reported in the NH Drug Data Update from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
MANCHESTER November 2024
- Suspected opioid ODs – 42
- Suspected fatal opioid ODs – 4
- 10% of the suspected opioid ODs in Manchester were fatal in November.
| MANCHESTER, NH | ACTUAL YTD THRU 11/30 | FULL YEAR PROJECTED | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Opioid Overdoses | 573 | 701 | 695 | 499 | 545 |
| Opioid Overdoses change YOY | 39% | 22% | -1% | -22% | |
| Opioid Overdoses per capita/100k | 495.5 | 606.2 | 601.0 | 471.4 | |
| Total Opioid Deaths | 51 | 79 | 58 | 44 | 48 |
| Opioid Deaths change YOY | 31% | 55% | -27% | -17% | |
| Opioid Deaths per capita/100k | 44.1 | 68.3 | 50.2 | 41.6 | |
| Fatality Rate vs. Opioid OD’s | 9% | 11% | 8% | 9% | |
NASHUA November 2024
- Suspected opioid ODs – 13
- Suspected fatal opioid ODs – 1
- 8% of the suspected opioid ODs in Nashua were fatal in November.
| NASHUA, NH | ACTUAL YTD THRU 11/30 | FULL YEAR PROJECTED | |||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Opioid Overdoses | 285 | 243 | 227 | 173 | 189 |
| Opioid Overdoses change YOY | 38% | -15% | -7% | -17% | |
| Opioid Overdoses per capita/100k | 312.1 | 266.1 | 248.6 | 207.0 | |
| Total Opioid Deaths | 30 | 44 | 39 | 20 | 22 |
| Opioid Deaths change YOY | 36% | 47% | -11% | -44% | |
| Opioid Deaths per capita/100k | 32.9 | 48.2 | 42.7 | 23.9 | |
| Fatality Rate vs. Opioid OD’s | 11% | 18% | 17% | 12% | |
Please keep in mind that due to the nature of the opioid epidemic and its clear history of unpredictability, it is always possible that this trend could quickly change. It is common to see different varieties of illicit poly substances appear without warning. Many can be highly lethal or require alternative approaches for successful lifesaving treatment.
In NH, anyone can seek substance use disorder treatment by accessing the NH Doorway program 24/7. To access the NH Doorway program, call 2-1-1 at any time of the day or night, or visit www.thedoorway.nh.gov. If you believe someone is overdosing call 9-1-1 immediately.
To help prevent death, it is critical that people who use illicit drugs do not use them alone and have Narcan readily available. Narcan is available throughout New Hampshire at most pharmacies. It is available free of charge from local public health departments & any NH Doorway location. It is completely safe and easy to administer. Narcan is now available over the counter, meaning it is available without a prescription to anyone.
Please feel free to share this information. As always, if anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! Merry Christmas!
Public Narcan Chart-combined_1Download
Chris Stawasz is Director of Government Affairs – Northeast RegionDirector of Government Affairs – Northeast Region, Global Medical Response.
