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5d ago

U.S. Overdose Deaths Plunge as Fentanyl Supply Is Disrupted

Researchers link the downturn to a supply shock tied to tighter controls on Chinese precursor chemicals.

A broken buprenorphine-naloxone canister, also known as Suboxone and commonly used to treat opioid addiction, is seen on the sidewalk near Sixth and Mission Street in San Francisco on Thursday.
C.J., 38, is seen on Sixth Street, a hotspot for opioid abuse in San Francisco, on Thursday. A Bay Area native who has been battling homelessness since 15, he said he has noticed a marked decrease in purity of fentanyl in recent years.
Baltimore police and fire officials respond to a series of overdoses at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North avenues, where more than 15 people were reported to have overdosed by noon. First responders treated three people behind a CVS around 9:30 a.m., and additional cases were reported nearby, including near Penn Station and the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Narcan was distributed by community groups on site, and a mobile command center was established as people were transported to area hospitals for treatment. (Nia Meyers/Staff)
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Overview

  • CDC data show national overdose deaths fell from more than 111,000 in August 2023 to about 69,000 by August 2025, reversing a decades-long rise.
  • DEA reporting notes fentanyl seizures dropped from 29,000 kilograms in 2023 to 23,000 in 2024 and purity declined, with Mexico-based labs struggling to source key precursors.
  • San Francisco recorded 621 overdose deaths in 2025, roughly level with 2024 after a sharp drop from 810 in 2023, pointing to a recent plateau.
  • Most states reported declines, though Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, and North Dakota saw increases, while Maryland and Baltimore City posted substantial reductions.
  • Clinicians and officials warn risks remain as dealers mix in sedatives like xylazine and medetomidine, even as wider access to naloxone and treatment likely helped reduce fatalities.