2018 Coroner's Report on Accidental Drug-Related Deaths in New Orleans

There were (208) accidental drug-related deaths in Orleans Parish in 2018, as compared to (219) in 2017, (211) in 2016, and (92) in 2015:
- 80% (166) of accidental drug-related deaths in 2018 were male, and 20% (43) were female. No significant change was seen in gender distribution during the last several years.
- 50% (105) were White, 48% (100) were African-American, and 2% (3) were Hispanic in 2018. African-Americans represented 52% in 2017, 45% in 2016, and 28% in 2015.
- As in previous years, toxicological analysis in most drug-related deaths revealed the presence of multiple drugs.

81% (168) tested positive for opiates in 2018, as compared to (166) in 2017 and 2016, and (81) in 2015:
- Of those (168) who tested positive for opiates in 2018, (106) tested positive for fentanyl (a synthetic opioid), as compared to (87) in 2017, (48) in 2016, and (13) in 2015.

52% (108) tested positive for cocaine in 2018, as compared to (116) in 2017, (105) in 2016, and (34) in 2015.

14% (29) tested positive for methamphetamines/amphetamines in 2018, as compared to (14) in 2017, (18) in 2016, and (4) in 2015.

New Orleans Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says, “The opioid epidemic continues to claim lives in New Orleans. The opiate market keeps rising towards highly lethal, less expensive, synthetic opiates such as fentanyl. The number of drug overdose deaths continues to surpass the number of homicides in the city. It is our mission and charge to continue to stay unified with the city in the fight against the drug overdose crisis.”