There were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before — the largest one-year decline ever recorded.

There were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before — the largest one-year decline ever recorded.

An estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses last year, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Wednesday. That’s down 27% from the 110,000 in 2023.

The CDC has been collecting comparable data for 45 years. The previous largest one-year drop was 4% in 2018, according to the agency’s National Center for Health Statistics.

  • phdepressed@sh.itjust.works
    2·
    11 hours ago

    I wonder if this is just a matter of people not getting into the drugs at all because of lacking social connections. So not transitioning into addicts and overdose or something about narcan availability.

    • MountingSuspicion@reddthat.com
      1·
      4 hours ago

      Both good points.

      They say there’s been a drop off in alcohol usage and sex too if I remember correctly, so I imagine it might all be tied to less partying, and sadly somewhat indicative of more social isolation.

      Narcan was also so heavily discussed that even I thought about having some on me just in case, but honestly I’m not really in any positions where I’d need it, so getting it felt like it’d be more virtue signaling than actually helping anyone lol. But I’m sure if I thought it’d ever actually come in handy that I and other people I know would have made sure to have it. I imagine people who interact with people susceptible to overdose would feel similarly.