In May, the CDC reported a remarkable improvement in drug overdose deaths across the United States. The number fell from 110,037 in 2023 to 80,391 in 2024—a nearly 27% reduction in a single year and the largest annual decrease since the overdose epidemic began over three decades ago. Nearly all regions saw improvements, with some of the hardest-hit areas—such as West Virginia, Ohio, and Washington, DC—experiencing declines of 35% or more. Researchers are still working to understand the causes of this progress, but likely contributors include expanded access to buprenorphine and methadone, widespread naloxone distribution, including over-the-counter availability, and growing adoption of harm reduction strategies. A shrinking supply of fentanyl and a shift toward lower potency in the illicit drug market may also have played a role. While this is encouraging news, overdose death rates remain high and are still above pre-pandemic levels. So we need to keep the momentum going: Continue to deliver evidence-based addiction care, embrace harm reduction, and ensure every patient has access to naloxone.

—Noah Capurso, MD, MHS

noah.capurso@yale.edu