The AP (5/13, Stobbe) reports preliminary data released Wednesday by the CDC show that “about 70,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year – about 14% fewer than the previous year.” This marks the “third straight annual drop, making it the longest decline in decades.” Declines were observed “across a number of drug types, including fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. Overdose deaths fell in the vast majority of states, although seven saw at least slight increases, including jumps of 10% or more in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico.” Nevertheless, “the number of Americans dying from overdoses is still high, and deaths declined at a slower pace last year.” Researchers believe that “a number of things could cause deaths to rise again – including government policy changes or a shift in the drug supply.”
Reuters (5/13, Sunny) reports the wide availability of naloxone “has significantly contributed to the drop, according to experts.” Furthermore, “deaths involving opioids fell to an estimated 44,564 in 2025 from 55,296 a year earlier, the CDC estimates showed. Synthetic opioids, including Fentanyl, are the single largest contributor to overdose deaths in the country.”
Related Links:
— “US overdose deaths fell again in 2025, but some worry about policy and drug supply changes,”Mike Stobbe , AP, May 13, 2026