In 2024, the number of drug overdose deaths in the United States was 30,000 less than the previous year, the biggest year-on-year decline ever.
According to temporary data centers for disease control and prevention data, an estimated 80,000 people died from overdose. This is a 27% drop from 110,000 in 2023.
The CDC has collected comparable data for 45 years. According to the agency's National Center for Health Statistics, the decline in the previous year in 2018 was 4%.
Last year, all but two states were declining – Ohio, West Virginia and some of the largest countries in other states have been suffering a hard hit in decades of overdose epidemics nationwide.
Experts say more research is needed to understand what causes the reduction, but they mentioned some possible factors. The most cited person:
Nevertheless, the annual excess death is still higher than before the 19009 pandemic. Some experts worry that recent declines may slow or stop due to reduced federal funding and public health workforce, or shifting from strategies that seem to be effective.
"It's not the time to get off the gas pedal," said Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a drug policy expert at the University of California, San Francisco.
The temporary figure is an estimate for all people who died from overdose, including non-citizens. The data is still being processed and the final numbers may sometimes vary. But it is obvious that there was a big drop last year.
Experts point out that in the past moment, our excessive deaths seem to have even begun to decline, only rising again. That happened in 2018.
But there is reason to stay optimistic.
Naloxone has become increasingly widespread, partly due to the introduction of over-the-counter versions that do not require prescriptions.
Meanwhile, drug manufacturers, distributors, pharmacy chains and other businesses have addressed past painkillers with state and local governments, which were the main drivers of overdose deaths in the past. The deals over the past decade or so have promised about $50 billion over time, most of which need to be used to fight addiction.
Another will be the biggest solution, with Oxycontin Maker Purdue Pharma, a member of the Sackler family who has agreed to pay up to $7 billion, who can get approval this year.
The money, along with federal taxpayers’ funds, will be used in a variety of programs, including supportive housing and hazard reduction efforts, such as providing materials to test for fentanyl, which is now the largest overdose driver.
But what each state will do with the money is currently controversial. "States can say we win, we can go away," said Regina LaBelle, former acting director of the National Office of Drug Control Policy. "Or they can use litigation funds on naloxone and other efforts. She is now in charge of Georgetown University’s addiction and public policy program.
President Donald Trump's administration believes opioids are largely a matter of law enforcement and a reason to strengthen border security. This has concern many public health leaders and advocates.
"We believe it is crucial to adopt a person who is designed to support drug use, rather than punish," said Dr. Tamara Olt, a woman from Illinois. Dr. Tamara Olt, a woman from Illinois, said his 16-year-old son died of heroin overdose in 2012.
OLT attributes have recently reduced the decline in the supply of naloxone, making treatment available and a wider understanding of the problem.
Kimberly Douglas, a 17-year-old son in Illinois who died of overdose in 2023, praised the growing chorus of his grieving mother. "Eventually people will start listening. Unfortunately, it took more than 10 years."