“U.S. overdose deaths fell 27% last year”
The United States recorded a historic decline in drug overdose deaths in 2024, with an estimated 80,000 fatalities — 30,000 fewer than the previous year, according to provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 27% year-over-year decrease marks the largest single-year drop since the CDC began tracking comparable data 45 years ago.
The previous record decline was 4% in 2018. This sharp reduction comes after years of steady increases fueled largely by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Nearly every state saw improvement in 2024, with significant decreases reported in Ohio, West Virginia, and other areas hit hardest by the opioid crisis.
While researchers continue to study the factors behind the decline, experts cite multiple contributing elements: broader access to naloxone (an overdose-reversing drug), expanded treatment options, shifts in drug use patterns, and the impact of billions of dollars from nationwide opioid litigation settlements. The drop also reflects demographic changes, as previous waves of fatalities have disproportionately affected older users.
However, overdose deaths remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, and public health officials caution that funding cuts or shifts in strategy could halt the progress. “Now is not the time to take the foot off the gas pedal,” said Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a drug policy expert at the University of California, San Francisco.
The federal government and states have begun deploying billions in settlement funds from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies. These resources have gone toward addiction treatment, prevention programs, and harm-reduction efforts such as fentanyl testing supplies. A potential $7 billion settlement with the Sackler family, former owners of Purdue Pharma, could add to this total if finalized this year.
While there is optimism around the 2024 data, some experts note that past periods of stabilization were followed by renewed increases. The decline in overdose deaths presents an opportunity for states to further invest in proven strategies such as treatment access, community outreach, and public safety.
The Trump administration, which previously emphasized law enforcement and border security in addressing opioid trafficking, has continued its focus on targeting drug cartels and reducing the influx of fentanyl across the southern border. Meanwhile, many public health advocates stress the need to maintain a balanced approach that supports both enforcement and treatment.
With state governments deciding how to allocate settlement funds, the next several years will be pivotal in determining whether this progress can be sustained—or reversed.
Rewritten. Original article posted here: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/us-overdose-deaths-fell-27-last-year-remain-prepandemic-levels-rcna206765
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