Remember the opioid crisis? 46 states recorded a decline in overdose deaths.
The United States is seeing a sudden drop in overdose deaths.
The country saw a 25.7% decline in drug overdose deaths in 2024 compared with the previous year, according to the It was the lowest number of overdose deaths in a 12-month period since 2020.
Some 46 states reported a decline from 2023 to 2024. Virginia observed the most drastic reduction in deaths 鈥� a 41.6% decline. (Delaware followed with a 38.4% decrease and West Virginia reported a 36.7% decline.)聽California, which is the largest state by population and records the most overdose cases, saw a 22.5% year-to-year decline.
Why We Wrote This
A story focused onAfter years of epidemic, the good news on overdose deaths is both pronounced and widespread. Not only did 46 states report a decline, the total number of deaths dropped by more than 27,000 in one year.
But public health experts are pausing before sounding any victory bells.
鈥淭his is a really important moment to pay attention to the trends. Not to declare victory, but to increase our commitment to working together on this,鈥� says Howard Koh, professor of public health leadership at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
鈥淲e need the current administration to step up and accelerate the momentum and not cut back its commitment through funding cuts and laying off public health workers at the state and federal level,鈥� says Dr. Koh.
National Center for Health Statistics
There are many concurrent factors that contributed to the drop in overdose deaths.
Some prevailing theories include: the increased accessibility of naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an overdose; increased access to evidence-based treatment for substance abuse disorders; and resumption of services after pandemic-related disruptions. Shifts in the illegal drug supply may also have played a role.
鈥淥verall, there鈥檚 more attention to public health and public safety to work together to address the crisis,鈥� says Dr. Koh, who served as a senior public health adviser during the Obama administration. 鈥淲e鈥檝e learned we can鈥檛 arrest our way out of this problem.鈥�
In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. The pandemic worsened the situation, with a surge in overdose deaths due to isolation and increased fentanyl use. At its peak in 2022, nearly 108,000 people died from overdose,
鈥淚t is unprecedented to see predicted overdose deaths drop by more than 27,000 over a single year,鈥� said Allison Arwady, director of CDC鈥檚 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, in a聽press release. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 more than 70 lives saved every day.鈥�
However, public health experts like Dr. Koh remain 鈥渃autious but hopeful鈥� that the downward trend continues.
鈥淭his is not the time to take the foot off the pedal,鈥� he says.
