Overdose Deaths Drop

US drug overdose deaths dropped by 30,000 in 2024, a provisional report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed yesterday. The 27% drop—from 110,000 deaths in 2023 to 80,000 last year—is the largest one-year decline on record, bringing annual overdose deaths to their lowest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.

It is not yet clear what drove the decline. Experts cite the increased availability of the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone as a possible factor; the Food and Drug Administration approved naloxone for over-the-counter use in March 2023. Methadone, an opioid treatment, also became more readily available, receiving approval for expanded at-home use last year. Shifts in drug use patterns and preferences may also be driving factors. 

All but two states saw a drop in deaths, with Nevada and South Dakota experiencing small increases. Deaths linked to synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, saw the biggest drop. Learn more about opioids in 1440 Topics here.