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Syracuse is the largest city in Central New York and the county seat of Onondaga County.
Fentanyl has dominated the local overdose picture for several years, though Onondaga County saw a roughly 42% reduction in opioid fatalities from 2023 to 2024, driven in part by expanded naloxone access, growing harm reduction infrastructure and increased availability of medication-assisted treatment across the county.
Onondaga County has directed opioid lawsuit settlement funds to local providers to expand treatment capacity. Among the documented allocations, Crouse Hospital received $450,000 to increase addiction treatment services, and Catholic Charities received $750,000 to expand treatment access for people in homeless shelters.
In fact, the county allocated over $1.4 million in settlement funds in 2024 across treatment and services for special populations.
A significant patient protection in New York is that state law bars insurers from requiring prior authorization for in-network, medically necessary inpatient SUD treatment, including detox, during the first 14 days of admission, provided the provider notifies the insurer within 48 hours of intake. This rule removes one of the most common delays people face when trying to enter care.
Every detox and substance use disorder treatment program in the area must hold active certification from the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), the state’s lead agency for addiction services.
OASAS sets minimum standards for each level of care, from medically managed inpatient withdrawal to outpatient counseling, and licenses all providers operating in the state. Certification status can be confirmed through the OASAS provider directory at oasas.ny.gov.
