PROVIDENCE – An increase in nonfatal overdoses throughout Rhode Island has prompted the R.I. Department of Health to issue a statewide overdose spike alert for the first time since 2023.
From March 10-16, RIDOH reports 55 nonfatal overdoses throughout Rhode Island, reaching the 55-overdose threshold for triggering an alert at the state level.
Burrillville, Foster, Glocester and Scituate exceeded the threshold to trigger municipal overdose spike alerts. RIDOH also issued an overdose spike alert in these communities during the week of March 2-8.
RIDOH released the alert under its new Overdose Spike Alert System, which was implemented in January. The new dashboard replaces the department’s earlier Integrated Surveillance System and broadens what substances RIDOH tracks.
Spike alerts can include overdoses caused by opioids, stimulants, benzodiazepines and other substances.
Fentanyl, a highly potent opioid that can cause overdoses even in trace amounts, “continues to be present in the drug supply,” RIDOH said in the alert, and is not limited to opioids.
The state has averaged 41 nonfatal overdoses per week in 2026, according to RIDOH data.
While overdose fatalities in Rhode Island decreased by 33% year over year in the first eight months of 2025, RIDOH says, hundreds of Rhode Islanders continue to die of overdoses each year.
Jacquelyn Voghel is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Voghel@PBN.com.
