Last reviewed and updated: August 19, 2026. All figures verified against New Jersey state reporting on that date. See how we source this page.
Quick answer: The New Jersey opioid crisis is easing but is far from over. New Jersey recorded 1,312 suspected drug overdose deaths in 2025, a 27 percent drop from 2024 and roughly half the state’s pandemic-era peak. Fentanyl remains the primary driver of fatal overdoses, and adulterants such as xylazine have made the illicit supply less predictable. Camden County reported both the highest number of suspected overdose deaths and the highest per-capita rate in 2025, while Essex County cut its total roughly in half. Free, confidential help is available statewide through the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 and New Jersey’s ReachNJ line at 1-844-732-2465.
On this page
- New Jersey opioid crisis statistics
- Overdose deaths by year, 2020 to 2025
- How the epidemic developed
- Which counties are most affected
- What is driving overdose deaths today
- Treatment access in New Jersey
- Understanding detoxification
- Where to find help
- Frequently asked questions
- How we source this page
New Jersey opioid crisis statistics
Overdose remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in New Jersey, but the trajectory has changed substantially since 2021. The state’s own reporting shows four consecutive years of decline, and New Jersey is now improving faster than the national average.
- 1,312 suspected drug overdose deaths statewide in 2025
- 27 percent decrease from 2024, compared with roughly 20 percent nationally
- More than 50 percent below the 2020 and 2021 peaks
- 13.8 per 100,000 residents was the statewide overdose death rate in 2025
- 9,852 naloxone administrations were logged by emergency medical services and law enforcement through November 2025
- 54 authorized harm reduction centers operating across all 21 counties as of mid-2025
New Jersey overdose deaths by year, 2020 to 2025
The table below uses the New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner series reported through NJ CARES. Confirmed and suspected counts are labeled separately because they are not interchangeable, a distinction explained in the methodology section.
| Year | Deaths | Count type | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,954 | Confirmed | Pandemic-era surge |
| 2021 | 3,047 | Confirmed | Peak year |
| 2022 | 2,892 | Suspected | First decline |
| 2023 | 2,564 | Suspected | Down roughly 11 percent |
| 2024 | 1,803 | Suspected | Down roughly 30 percent |
| 2025 | 1,312 | Suspected | Down 27 percent |
Read the direction of travel rather than any single year against another. Suspected counts are revised upward as toxicology completes, so the most recent year in any state table is always the least settled figure on it.
How the New Jersey opioid epidemic developed
New Jersey’s overdose deaths roughly tripled between 2012 and the pandemic years, rising from just under 1,100 annually to more than 3,000. The arc followed the national pattern: a first wave driven by prescription painkillers, a second wave as people moved to heroin, and a third and by far the deadliest wave as illicitly manufactured fentanyl replaced heroin throughout the supply.
The decline that began after 2021 is generally attributed to a combination of factors: saturation-level naloxone distribution, expanded harm reduction services, sustained public education, and changes in the drug supply itself. New Jersey was the first state to enact a “Right to Know” law requiring prescribers to discuss non-opioid alternatives for pain management with patients, a model since adopted in more than 20 other states.
Which New Jersey counties are most affected
Progress has been uneven, and the ranking of hardest-hit counties changed between 2024 and 2025.
| County | 2025 deaths | Rate per 100,000 | Change from 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | 168 | 31.5 | Down 17 percent |
| Essex | 156 | 17.7 | Down roughly 50 percent, from 309 |
| Burlington | 59 | Not reported | Down 33 percent, from 88 |
| Statewide | 1,312 | 13.8 | Down 27 percent |
Two things in this table are worth reading carefully, because headline coverage tends to collapse them. Camden now leads the state in total deaths, but that happened partly because Essex improved so sharply, not because Camden worsened. Camden’s own count fell 17 percent. Separately, Camden leads on the per-capita rate at more than twice the state average, and that is the figure that actually describes local risk. A county can rank first on total deaths simply by being populous.
Figures for all 21 counties are published on the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner dashboard, which updates on a rolling basis.
What is driving overdose deaths in New Jersey today
Fentanyl
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is present in the majority of New Jersey opioid overdose deaths. It is roughly 50 times more potent than heroin, and because it is mixed into powders and pressed into counterfeit pills without any quality control, the amount in any given dose is unpredictable. People who believe they are using heroin, cocaine, or a prescription pill are frequently exposed to fentanyl without knowing it.
Xylazine and other adulterants
Xylazine, a veterinary sedative that is not an opioid, has spread through the East Coast supply and is now common in New Jersey. Because it is not an opioid, naloxone does not reverse its sedative effects, though naloxone should still always be administered because fentanyl is almost always present alongside it. Xylazine exposure is also associated with severe skin wounds. New Jersey’s harm reduction centers are now authorized to distribute xylazine test strips in addition to fentanyl test strips.
Polysubstance exposure
A growing share of fatal overdoses involve more than one substance, most often an opioid combined with a stimulant such as cocaine or methamphetamine, or with a benzodiazepine. Combinations that include a sedative alongside an opioid substantially increase respiratory risk.
Older adults
One of the less visible shifts in the New Jersey opioid crisis is age. Fentanyl-involved overdose deaths among adults over 65 have risen sharply since 2015, a group historically overlooked in prevention messaging and one that state campaigns have only recently begun to address directly.
Treatment access in New Jersey
New Jersey’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services has reported more than 85,000 substance use treatment admissions statewide in a recent reporting year. Outpatient and intensive outpatient services account for the largest share, followed by residential and detoxification services.
The state has also built out harm reduction infrastructure rapidly. As of July 2025 the Department of Health had authorized 54 harm reduction centers, with at least one site in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties, delivered through a mix of fixed locations, mobile units, and mail-based services. These centers provide naloxone, sterile supplies, test strips, and referral to treatment.
Opioid settlement funding
New Jersey expects to receive more than $1 billion through 2038 from national legal settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy chains. Roughly half is directed to state-run programs and the remainder to counties and municipalities, under a published state spending plan. Unlike the tobacco settlements of the 1990s, the funds are restricted to addiction-related uses.
Understanding detoxification and what it does
Detoxification is the process of clearing opioids from the body and managing the physical withdrawal that follows. It is a medical event, not a course of treatment. It addresses physical dependence rather than the psychological and behavioral dimensions of substance use disorder. Detox completed without any follow-up support carries a well-documented risk: tolerance falls quickly, so a return to a previously ordinary dose can be fatal.
Settings differ substantially. Some residential programs offer supervised withdrawal with monitoring but limited medical intervention. Inpatient medical detoxification takes place in a hospital or licensed medical facility where a physician manages withdrawal symptoms, monitors vital signs, and can respond to complications. The appropriate setting depends on which opioid is involved, duration of use, dosage, and any co-occurring medical or psychiatric conditions. That assessment belongs to a qualified physician who has evaluated the individual.
Long-acting opioids and prolonged withdrawal
Methadone and buprenorphine are long-acting opioids prescribed for opioid use disorder. People who have been maintained on either and later decide they want to stop often find withdrawal more prolonged than withdrawal from shorter-acting opioids, in some cases lasting weeks or months rather than days. Anyone considering discontinuation should do so only under the supervision of the prescribing physician, and should understand in advance what the taper or transition will involve. Stopping abruptly without medical guidance is both difficult and unsafe.
Where to find help in New Jersey
All of the resources below are free and confidential. None require insurance.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357, available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish, offering treatment referral and information nationwide.
- ReachNJ: 1-844-732-2465, New Jersey’s 24-hour addiction helpline, answered by a live specialist and available to residents of all ages regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
- NJ Addictions Access Center: 1-844-276-2777, for individuals who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid.
- NJ Addictions Hotline: 1-800-238-2333, or dial 211 for statewide support services at the local level.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 for immediate crisis support.
- Free naloxone: available anonymously and without a prescription through the New Jersey Department of Human Services naloxone program, participating pharmacies statewide, and by mail through 1-877-4NARCAN.
Frequently asked questions about the New Jersey opioid crisis
How many people died of drug overdose in New Jersey in 2025?
New Jersey recorded 1,312 suspected drug overdose deaths in 2025 according to NJ CARES, a 27 percent decrease from 2024 and the lowest annual total in five years. Suspected figures are revised as toxicology and medical examiner reports are completed.
Which county in New Jersey has the most overdose deaths?
Camden County recorded the highest number of suspected overdose deaths in 2025 with 168, and also had the highest per-capita rate at 31.5 per 100,000 residents, more than twice the statewide average. Essex County was second with 156 deaths, down from 309 the previous year when it ranked first statewide.
Is the opioid crisis in New Jersey getting better?
By the primary measure, yes. Overdose deaths have declined every year since the 2021 peak, and the 2025 decline of 27 percent outpaced the national decrease of roughly 20 percent. Deaths nonetheless remain above pre-2015 levels, and the illicit supply is more dangerous than during earlier phases of the epidemic.
What drug causes the most overdose deaths in New Jersey?
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is involved in the majority of fatal opioid overdoses in New Jersey. It is frequently mixed into heroin, cocaine, and counterfeit pills, which means many people are exposed without intending to use it.
What is xylazine and why does it matter in New Jersey?
Xylazine is a veterinary sedative that is not an opioid and is increasingly found mixed into the illicit drug supply along the East Coast, including New Jersey. Naloxone does not reverse xylazine, though it should still be given immediately during any suspected overdose because fentanyl is typically present as well. Xylazine exposure is also associated with severe skin wounds. Test strips are available free through New Jersey harm reduction centers.
Does naloxone work on a fentanyl overdose?
Yes. Naloxone reverses fentanyl overdose, though more than one dose is often required because of fentanyl’s potency. Naloxone is available in New Jersey for free, anonymously, and without a prescription. Emergency services should be called in every case, even when the person appears to recover.
How do I find opioid treatment in New Jersey without insurance?
ReachNJ at 1-844-732-2465 serves New Jersey residents of all ages regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, and connects callers directly to local providers. The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 provides the same service nationally. New Jersey also operates an Addictions Access Center at 1-844-276-2777 for individuals who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid.
How we source this page
New Jersey publishes overdose figures through more than one system, and the numbers do not match. This is the most common source of confusion in coverage of the New Jersey opioid crisis, so it is worth stating plainly.
- Suspected counts come from the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner and are reported through NJ CARES, maintained by the Office of the Attorney General. These are near real-time and are revised as toxicology completes. They are the fastest figures available and the ones used for the most recent year on this page.
- Confirmed counts are the same series after toxicology and cause-of-death determination are finalized, typically a year or more later.
- SUDORS figures come from the New Jersey State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System at the Department of Health, which links death certificates, medical examiner reports, and toxicology into a single record and counts New Jersey residents, including those who died out of state. SUDORS uses a different methodology and will not match the medical examiner series. For 2023, for example, SUDORS reported 2,816 resident deaths while the suspected count was 2,564.
Neither figure is wrong. They answer slightly different questions. Any page that mixes the two series in one trend line will show declines and increases that did not happen. This page keeps to the medical examiner series and labels each figure as suspected or confirmed.
Every statistic here is drawn from New Jersey state government reporting or federal public health agencies, listed below. Figures are verified at each update, and the review date appears at the top of the page. Where sources conflict, the state’s own primary reporting takes precedence over secondary coverage.
Sources
- NJ CARES, New Jersey Office of the Attorney General
- New Jersey State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS)
- New Jersey Overdose Data Dashboard, Department of Health
- New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Overdose Prevention
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, Opioids
- SAMHSA National Helpline
- Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey
This page is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose, treat, or recommend any specific provider or course of care. Decisions about detoxification and treatment should be made with a qualified physician who has evaluated the individual. If you or someone you know needs help, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
