New Jersey Drug Overdose Statistics 2024

New Jersey recorded an estimated 1,803 suspected overdose deaths in 2024 — down from 2,778 in 2023, a significant statewide improvement. But with roughly 18 deaths per week still occurring across the state in early 2025, and with fentanyl present in the vast majority of fatal overdoses, the overdose crisis in New Jersey remains an urgent public health emergency.

This page compiles verified NJ overdose data from the NJ Office of Chief State Medical Examiner (OCSME), NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and NJ Department of Health. Our focus is Camden County and South Jersey — where Hope Harbor Addiction Center operates — but the statewide picture provides essential context.

2024 Statewide Overdose Deaths: The Numbers

New Jersey's 35% decline in overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024 is meaningful. It reflects expanded naloxone access, improved MAT availability, harm reduction programs, and increased treatment capacity across the state. But with 1,803 deaths in a single year — and approximately 18 New Jerseyans dying from overdose every week as of Q1 2025 — the improvement is a floor, not a ceiling.

Source: NJ Office of Chief State Medical Examiner (OCSME), preliminary 2024 data; Better Life Recovery / OCSME research, 2025. betterliferecovery.com

County-by-County: Where Overdose Deaths Are Concentrated

Overdose deaths in New Jersey are not evenly distributed. The highest-burden counties are concentrated in North Jersey's urban corridor and South Jersey's Philadelphia-adjacent communities:

Camden County's position as the second-highest county in the state is particularly striking given that Camden County is not among NJ's largest counties by population. The county's proximity to Philadelphia, its role as a transit corridor, and historic economic stressors in Camden City contribute to the disproportionate burden.

For Camden County-specific data, see our detailed page: Camden County Drug Overdose Statistics 2024.

Fentanyl's Role: The Chemistry Behind the Crisis

The single most important factor in New Jersey's overdose epidemic — and nationally — is the saturation of the illicit drug supply with fentanyl and fentanyl analogs.

Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. A lethal dose is microscopic — invisible to the naked eye. When fentanyl is unevenly mixed into other substances, the result is unpredictable dosing that can kill an experienced user who believes they are managing their use safely.

The emergence of xylazine ("tranq") — a veterinary sedative increasingly mixed into NJ's fentanyl supply — adds another layer of danger. Xylazine is not an opioid, so naloxone does not reverse its effects. New Jersey began distributing xylazine test strips at Harm Reduction Centers in January 2024 in direct response to this threat. For more, see: Xylazine in the NJ Drug Supply and The Fentanyl Crisis in South Jersey.

Treatment Demand Across New Jersey

New Jersey recorded 85,266 total treatment admissions in 2022, according to the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). The two most common primary substances at admission were alcohol (37%) and heroin/opioids (36%) — meaning the opioid crisis is only one dimension of the treatment landscape. Alcohol use disorder remains the most common substance use disorder in New Jersey by treatment admissions volume.

Camden County alone accounted for 7,390 of those admissions — the third-highest total among NJ's 21 counties. The demand for local, accessible treatment in South Jersey is high and documented.

New Jersey's Medication-Assisted Treatment Infrastructure

One reason New Jersey has made meaningful progress against overdose deaths is its relatively strong Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) infrastructure. According to SAMHSA's 2024 report, New Jersey offers one of the most accessible MAT systems in the Mid-Atlantic region — with buprenorphine prescribers, methadone maintenance clinics, and expanded naltrexone access across the state.

MAT with buprenorphine (Suboxone) or methadone dramatically reduces overdose mortality — studies consistently show 50% or greater reductions in overdose death risk among people who remain in MAT. Expanding access to MAT, especially in communities with high overdose burden like Camden County, is a central pillar of NJ's response strategy.

Hope Harbor Addiction Center offers medication-assisted treatment as part of comprehensive addiction care in Cherry Hill. Learn more: MAT in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Crisis Resources in New Jersey

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use in New Jersey, the following resources are available 24 hours a day:

• NJ HOPELINE: 1-855-654-6735 — New Jersey's dedicated 24/7 substance use and crisis support line
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
• NJ 211: Dial 2-1-1 for free, confidential referrals to local addiction and mental health resources
• Naloxone365: naloxone365.nj.gov — free Narcan at 650+ NJ pharmacies

Related pages:
Camden County Drug Overdose Statistics 2024
The Fentanyl Crisis in South Jersey
How to Get Free Narcan in New Jersey
Addiction treatment in Cherry Hill, NJ