U.S. drug overdose deaths plummet

Overdose deaths in the United States have fallen by
more than 30,000 since a peak in the summer of 2023,
with declines seen in all major categories of drug use

12 MONTH-ENDING U.S. DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS, 2015-2024

2015 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 2024

0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000

Peak deaths
June 2023:
111,466

Jul 2023:
Mortality
rate slides

Dec 2024
Total
deaths:
80,391

Opioids:
54,743

Synthetic
opioids*:
48,422

Cocaine:
22,174

Heroin:
2,756

*Includes drugs such as fentanyl and tramadol but not methadone. Note: Drug overdose deaths may involve multiple drugs – for example, one death may be caused by heroin and fentanyl and would be counted in two categories

Sources: New York Times, CDC
Picture: Markus Spiske (Unsplash)
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