GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The U.S. recorded 30,000 fewer drug overdose deaths in 2024 compared to the year before — the largest single-year decline since tracking began, according to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to AP News, an estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses last year, down 27% from 110,000 in 2023. CDC officials said the sharp decline marks a turning point in the decades-long opioid crisis.
All but two states saw improvements, with major drops in hard-hit areas like Ohio and West Virginia. Health experts credit several factors, including increased access to naloxone — the overdose-reversal drug — and expanded treatment programs. Billions of dollars from opioid lawsuit settlements are also being used to fund addiction services and harm-reduction efforts…