Drug Overdoses and Alcohol Abuse Account for Nearly Half of NYC Homeless Deaths, Study Shows

New York City’s Departments of Health and Social Services and Homeless Services reported that 285 of the 634 homeless deaths recorded from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 were linked to drug addiction, overdoses or alcohol misuse. The analysis includes fatalities in emergency shelters, on the streets, in subways, abandoned buildings and private homes. Hospital deaths comprised 58% of the total, while 22% of unsheltered deaths occurred outdoors; overall, 52% were classified as unsheltered and 48% occurred in homeless facilities.

Drug-related deaths dropped 28% from the prior fiscal year yet still represented 40% of all deaths, with heart disease, non-overdose accidents, and alcohol misuse trailing. Officials warned that the figures likely miss some migrant deaths because city health data did not receive information from agencies managing temporary encampments. The report highlighted a near-18% decline in total homeless deaths compared with the previous year and cited ongoing city programs such as opioid overdose prevention and naloxone training.