The New York Times (8/25, Hoffman) reports, “As fentanyl propelled overdose deaths to ever more alarming numbers several years ago, public health officials throughout the United States stepped up a blunt, pragmatic response.” More states “authorized needle exchanges, where drug users could get sterile syringes as well as alcohol wipes, rubber ties and cookers.” As a result, “by mid-2023, overdose deaths began dropping.
Last year, there were an estimated 80,391 drug overdose deaths in the United States, down from 110,037 in 2023, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” However, “states and communities are turning away from harm reduction strategies” after President Trump last month issued an “executive order that included a blast at harm reduction programs.”
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— The New York Times (requires login and subscription)