CDC: US overdose deaths fall for third consecutive year

US drug overdose deaths surged sharply in the early 2020s, driven largely by illicitly manufactured fentanyl, with annual fatalities peaking above 110,000 in some reporting periods. The decline that began in 2023 has coincided with broader availability of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, expanded use of medications for opioid use disorder, and sustained federal and state harm-reduction investments. Some public health researchers have cautioned that the improvement may be fragile, pointing to uncertainty around ongoing policy changes and potential shifts in the illicit drug supply. The CDC's current figures remain preliminary and are subject to revision as complete state-level data is submitted.