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8mo ago

US Drug Overdose Deaths Drop 10% After Decades of Increase

The decline, attributed to various interventions, marks the first significant reduction in years but experts urge caution in interpreting the data.

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: Narcotic consumption material at a safe injection site at OnPoint NYC on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 in New York, NY. In 2021, New York City opened two supervised drug injection sites in the Harlem and Washington Heights neighborhoods in an effort to address the increase in overdose deaths. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Different drugs on the table.
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Overview

  • Overdose deaths in the US fell from 112,470 to 101,168 between April 2023 and April 2024, according to CDC data.
  • States with rapid data collection systems reported even sharper declines, with some seeing reductions of 20-30%.
  • Experts credit better access to naloxone and medications for opioid use disorder as potential factors for the decline.
  • Despite the positive trend, researchers caution against premature optimism, noting the overall death toll remains high.
  • Non-fatal overdoses have also decreased significantly, suggesting a broader impact of ongoing public health interventions.