As Drug Overdose Deaths Decline, Experts Worry About Future

Drug overdose deaths declined by almost 27% in 2024, new provisional data from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed.

The decline continues a downward trend that began in 2023, with a 3% decline that year, followed by steady drops each month of 2024.

Overall, there were 80,391 predicted provisional deaths at the end of 2024, down from 110,037 in December 2023. Some 111,029 individuals died from overdose at the epidemic’s peak in 2022.

Decreases in overdose deaths last year were reported in almost every state, with only Nevada and South Dakota reporting slight increases.

In a statement, the CDC said the decline reflects “a strong sign that public health interventions are making a difference and having a meaningful impact” but noted that “overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44, underscoring the need for ongoing efforts to maintain this progress.”

Some experts are concerned that the progress may be affected by the Trump administration’s staffing and budget cuts to various health agencies and steep funding cuts to Medicaid proposed by the White House and congressional Republicans. (Medscpa, USA, 15.05.2025)

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/drug-overdose-deaths-decline-experts-worry-about-future