40 D'MENSIONS MAGAZINE According to Vicaretti, no prior local data existed in Erie County to understand the barriers people face locally to access naloxone. From high costs to lack of insurance, facing the stigma of buying an overdose prevention drug and dealing with pharmacy employees who aren’t completely educated on naloxone and its availability, the research team was able to put together a report on what can be improved to help break down those barriers. “By evaluating naloxone access through the lens of the patient experience, we were able to identify gaps and opportunities that can directly inform public health strategy, pharmacy practice and future collaboration with county and state partners,” said Dr. Alyssa M. Wozniak, assistant dean for Clinical Affairs, Outreach and Special Projects within the School of Pharmacy and co-presenter with Vicaretti during the December program. “The project, overall, reflects D’Youville’s commitment to meeting community needs with data-driven, patient- centered solutions.” THE CRISIS The opioid crisis in Western New York — and, more specifically, Erie County — can best be described as “severe and evolving.” While overdose deaths actually declined from 2024 to 2025, they still remain high compared to other regions in the country. Through Nov. 7 of last year, Erie County saw 216 total overdose deaths, of which 154 were suspected to be opioid related. Erie’s worst year came in 2023, when the county set a record for overdose fatalities at 366, surpassing the previous peak from 2016. Men and women in their 40s represented the higher number of fatal overdoses, and the Black community was disproportionately affected by the crisis. And a major driver in the area’s high fatality rate has been the presence of fentanyl and similar drugs in the “illicit” supply. Erie County formed its Opiate Epidemic Task Force in 2016 and the Opioid Intervention Court in 2017 (providing immediate D’Youville University is working with Vital Pharmacy to expand access to evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment by pursuing more options and improving training. OPIOID ABUSE IN ERIE COUNTY Erie County is experiencing an ongoing, severe opioid crisis, with 2023 marking a record high for overdose fatalities at 366, surpassing the previous peak in 2016. While fatalities began to show a slight decline in 2024 and 2025, the crisis remains intense, heavily driven by fentanyl, xylazine and, increasingly, cocaine laced with these substances. The crisis has shifted, with a rising, disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic communities, particularly in Buffalo, which accounts for over half of all county deaths. In 2023, 66% of fatal overdoses happened in or near the victim’s home.
