By Nina Mandell and Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producers
MANHATTAN — Unintentional drug overdose deaths in New York City fell in 2008 to the lowest level since 1999, the Health Department reported Monday.
The downturn in drug-related deaths may have to do with increased use of the drug naloxene, a strong anti-opiate used in emergency rooms to combat overdoses, the AP reported.
Overdose deaths fell from 874 in 2006, to 666 in 2008, but drugs remain the third-leading cause of death among New Yorkers between 25 and 34 years old.
Among the department’s recomendations for dealing with drug abuse in the city was increasing the use of the drug buprenorphine to treat addiction.
Although the drugs naloxene and buprenorphine work with opiates, New Yorkers are increasingly turning to cocaine and prescription pills for their highs.
Cocaine use and prescription pill abuse have increased among men in the city. In 2006, 5.8 percent of males used cocaine and 6.5 percent used prescription pills.
Over half of drug-related emergency room visits in 2006 were related to cocaine use, the department reported.
Overall, pain reliever abuse doubled among adults older than 35, with 6.5 percent of the population abusing pills.
Despite the increase in use of other drugs, Marijuana remained the drug of choice for young New Yorkers, 30 percent of 18 to 25-year-olds smoked the drug.
Drug-related deaths cut across demographics with older blacks, middle-aged Hispanics and younger white adults making up the most at-risk groups, the department reported.