U.S. drug overdose deaths fell 26 percent in 2024, with fentanyl-related deaths dropping 34 percent between 2023 and 2024, primarily due to declining purity of illegal fentanyl supplies rather than expanded harm reduction services. Researchers caution that while this represents a potential turning point in the opioid epidemic, deaths from other drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine are rising, and nearly 80,000 overdose deaths still occurred in 2024.
Otto Beta
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U.S. drug overdose deaths fell 26 percent in 2024, with fentanyl-related deaths dropping 34 percent between 2023 and 2024, primarily due to declining purity of illegal fentanyl supplies rather than expanded harm reduction services. Researchers caution that while this represents a potential turning point in the opioid epidemic, deaths from other drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine are rising, and nearly 80,000 overdose deaths still occurred in 2024.