Summary

Opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. have declined to their lowest levels since 2020, with a reported 18% drop in fatalities from June 2023 to June 2024, per CDC estimates.

The decrease is attributed to factors like broader access to naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and improved primary prevention efforts, such as fewer high school students trying drugs.

However, overdose rates remain high, particularly among Native Americans and Black men, while new drug supply trends, including shifts linked to xylazine, may also be influencing the decline.

Experts caution against complacency, as nearly 100,000 people still die annually.