Fatal drug overdoses on Long Island have increased during the pandemic.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran’s office said there were over 300 fatal overdoses last year, an increase of 34%.
Suffolk County had close to 400 overdoses and an almost 12% increase.
Steve Chassman with the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, blames the stresses of the pandemic for a spike in usage.
He says the situation was made worse by COVID-19 restrictions placed on treatment programs.
Officials say deaths were caused primarily by the opioid fentanyl.
