WASHINGTON – Drug overdose deaths have dropped 17% in the United States in just one year, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From July 2023 to July 2024, it was the largest reduction in recorded overdose deaths in the country’s history, according to White House Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden.
“This is no coincidence,” Tanden said, according to NY1. “Efforts taken, investments made and policies put in place for this administration are having a positive and real impact.”
Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, outlined three key factors behind the decline:
- Increased access to naloxone: The life-saving overdose treatment became more accessible after the Food and Drug Administration authorized its sale over the counter. Emily’s Hope is currently distributing free Narcan in several locations.
- Expanded treatment options: More healthcare providers are now authorized to prescribe medications for opioid use disorder.
- Disruption of fentanyl trafficking: The White House says it’s intensified efforts to curb the production and trafficking of fentanyl, making these activities more costly and difficult.
Despite this progress, challenges remain. Approximately 90,000 Americans still lost their lives to opioid overdoses in the year ending July 2024. Additionally, six states reported increases in overdose deaths, with Alaska seeing a 40% rise, Nevada 25%, and Utah 10%.