Written by Steve B | Updated on Jun 7, 2024
In a rare bit of encouraging news about the nationwide overdose epidemic, provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows drug overdose deaths decreased by 3% between 2022 and 2023. This marks the first decline in annual overdose deaths since 2018.
While the drop from over 107,000 to around 104,000 overdose deaths is modest, it represents a breakthrough after years of relentless increases fueled by the spread of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The CDC says the slight decrease in overall overdoses was driven by a small decline in deaths involving opioids like fentanyl, heroin, and prescription painkillers.
However, the data also highlighted an ongoing surge in overdoses from methamphetamine, cocaine and other stimulants, which continued rising even as opioid deaths dipped slightly. Over 66,000 Americans still died from a stimulant overdose in 2023.
CDC officials called the overall 3% decrease in overdoses “heartening” but cautioned that the data is provisional and may underestimate the true death toll, as fatal overdose investigations can take months to complete.
Public health experts say the dip in opioid deaths could reflect the scaling up of harm reduction strategies like wider naloxone distribution and fentanyl test strip access. But they emphasized that one year of stagnating overdose rates is nowhere near victory, especially with stimulant deaths still accelerating.
The slight downturn offers a glimmer of progress, but the CDC data shows just how enormous the work remains to truly turn the tide against America’s deadliest overdose crisis ever. Sustained funding and expansion of proven measures will be needed to build on this potential turning point.
Information via CBS News / Drug overdose deaths are down in the U.S. for the first time since 2018
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