New data from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System released in February 2025 revealed nearly a 24% decline in drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12 months ending in September 2024 compared to the previous year. Provisional data shows there were about 87,000 drug overdose deaths from October 2023 to September 2024, down from 114,000 the previous year. This is the fewest overdose deaths reported in any 12-month period since June 2020.

"It is unprecedented to see predicted overdose deaths drop by more than 27,000 over a single year," said Allison Arwady, MD, MPH, Director of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "That's more than 70 lives saved every day.” Arwady says CDC's public health investments, improved data and laboratory systems for overdose response, and partnerships with public safety colleagues in every state mean they are more rapidly identifying emerging drug threats and supporting public health prevention and response activities across America.

Neera Tanden, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, described the data as “the largest recorded reduction in overdose deaths, ever,” emphasizing the concerted efforts that led to this outcome. However, while this national death decline is encouraging, overdoses remain the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44, the CDC says. Five states recorded increases in overdose deaths, including Alaska, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota, and Utah, highlighting a continued need for local initiatives, data collection, analysis, and a tailored response.

By September 2024, U.S. overdose deaths dropped to about 87,000 (a 24% decline from the peak), marking the lowest number of overdose deaths since June 2020. However, nonfatal overdose rates may be increasing, with many people who overdose being rescued yet experiencing repeat overdoses. There were 296,323 visits to emergency departments for nonfatal opioid overdoses in 2023 (129.3 per 100,000 population) across 26 states with data. This suggests missed opportunities to intervene and treat. For example, in one study, 6.5% of patients treated with naloxone (Narcan) by emergency medical services (EMS) in Massachusetts died later the same day, and an additional 9.3% died within one year. This suggests a revolving door pattern for overdoses.

West Virginia is the state most experts point to because it had the most deaths per capita and was ground zero for the OxyContin, heroin, and fentanyl epidemics. The latest West Virginia data shows a

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