Overdoses continue to decline across Cayuga County.
According to county data, the county has seen 19 overdoses, including one fatality, between January and March this year. That is down from the 39 (three of which were fatal) seen during the same time frame last year. Overall, overdoses have been on the decline in Cayuga County, with the county seeing 136 overdoses in 2024, a steep decline from the 278 seen in 2021.
While the decline is good news for the county, Sheriff Brian Shenck explained on FLX Morning with Paul Smzal that drug users are moving away from opioids and choosing other drugs.
“We are seeing a shift from opioid use that is the root cause of a lot of these overdoses to stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines, so people are shifting from one drug to another, and we’re not seeing as many overdoses but we are seeing people turn and start to use different types of drugs.”
The sheriff added that his office and partners are shifting their focus and efforts to combat cocaine and meth use in the county.
