Skip to main content

U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Decline for First Time in 7 Years

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 15, 2024.

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, May 15, 2024 -- The relentless rise in deaths from drug overdose in the United States may finally have stalled: New data from 2023 show the first decline in such deaths since 2018.

"Statistics indicate there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023 — a decrease of 3% from the 111,029 deaths estimated in 2022," CDC statisticians wrote.

They released the new numbers May 15 as a data presentation from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System.

An epidemic of addiction to prescription opioids like Oxycontin, along with the introduction of lethal additives to street drugs such as fentanyl or xylazine has spurred a steady rise in drug-related deaths.

But the new 2023 numbers, though still incomplete, could give Americans a glimmer of hope.

Overall, fatal drug overdoses fell slightly in 2023. That included overdoses linked to opioids, which declined from 84,181 in 2022 to 81,083 in 2023, the CDC said.

But the good news wasn't spread equally. Some states (Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana and Maine ) saw declines in fatal ODs of 15% or more in 2023, while others (Alaska, Washington, and Oregon ) charted big increases.

And while fewer people died in overdoses involving synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl), the rate of fatal overdoses involving cocaine and psychostimulants (such as methamphetamine) actually rose in 2023, the CDC said.

However, overall, "this is the first annual decrease in drug overdose deaths since 2018," the CDC noted.

Still, the agency stressed that the 2023 data is "incomplete and subject to change as more 2023 data are submitted to the National Vital Statistics System."

Sources

  • National Center for Health Statistics, news release, May 15, 2024

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted May 2024

Read this next

Opioids Tough To Prescribe For Legitimate Patients, Doctors Say

THURSDAY, April 24, 2025 — Patients who legitimately need opioid painkillers are finding it more difficult to get the meds they need, due to guardrails established in...

Teen Cannabis Use Rises in Canada After Edibles Are Legalized

WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2025 — Teen cannabis use rose significantly in parts of Canada after edibles were legalized, a new study shows. The study found a 26% increase in teen...

In-Hospital Addiction Consultations Put Opioid Users On Path To Recovery

TUESDAY, April 15, 2025 -- People hospitalized for opioid use can better fight their addiction if their path to recovery begins in the hospital, a new study says. Opioid users...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.