CDC data shows major drop in overdose deaths, as many as 20,000 lives saved

Karah Rucker

NEW PUBLIC HEALTH DATA SHOW SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES –

ACCORDING TO NATIONAL SURVEYS COMPILED BY THE CDC AND REPORTED BY NPR.

IT SHOWS A DECREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS OF APPROXIMATELY 10.6 PERCENT FROM APRIL 2023 TO APRIL 2024.

IN STATES WITH RAPID DATA COLLECTION, THE DECLINE IS EVEN STRONGER.

A “STREET DRUG EXPERT” AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TOLD NPR THAT SOME AREAS HAVE SEEN A 20 TO 30 PERCENT REDUCTION IN OVERDOSE DEATHS –

WHICH ALSO CORRECTS WITH A COMPARABLY SHARP DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF ER VISITS FOR O-Ds.

THIS ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THESE NUMBERS AMOUNTS TO 20,000 SAVED LIVES IN ONE YEAR.

BUT – THE CRISIS REMAINS THAT.

WITH ABOUT 100,000 DEATHS STILL PER YEAR –

DRIVEN BY DANGEROUS STREET DRUG COMBINATIONS –

SUCH AS FENTANYL, METHAMPHETAMINES AND XYLAZINE.

DOCTORS AND ANALYSTS WHO SPOKE TO NPR WERE ASKED: WHY SUCH A SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS YEAR AFTER YEAR –

A DRAMATIC DROP OF 10 PERCENT SO FAR?

THEY SAY IT’S STILL A MYSTERY AT THIS TIME.

BUT THINKS IT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A FEW DIFFERENT FACTORS.

ON THE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY OF TREATMENTS FOR FENTANYL ADDICTION.

TOWARDS THE END OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AND ITS IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES THAT FUELED DRUG USE.

FOR YEARS, FENTANYL AND SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS HAVE BEEN THE LEADING CAUSE OF DRUG OVERDEATHS.

FOLLOWED BY METH AND COCAINE.

HEY THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.

FOR MORE STORIES THAT MATTER TO YOU.

DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS MOBILE APP

OR VISIT US AT SAN DOT COM.