US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Wednesday.
Agency officials noted the data is provisional and could change after more analysis, but that they still expect a drop when the final counts are in. It would be only the second annual decline since the current national drug death epidemic began more than three decades ago.
Experts reacted cautiously. One described the decline as relatively small, and said it should be thought more as part of a leveling off than a decrease. Another noted that the last time a decline occurred — in 2018 — drug deaths shot up in the years that followed.
“Any decline is encouraging,” said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends. “But I think it’s certainly premature to celebrate or to draw any large-scale conclusions about where we may be headed long-term with this crisis.”
Related articles
California congressman urges closer consultation with tribes on offshore wind
A congressman who represents California’s north coast has sent a letter to federal regulators asking2024-05-21Campus protests: The history of 'outside agitators,' explained
Historically, when students at American universities and colleges protest — from the Civil Rights Mo2024-05-21Poor Kenyans feel devastated by floods and brutalized by the government's response
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Winnie Makinda, 35, says she is facing the worst crisis and lowest moment of h2024-05-21The 49ers are counting on new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen to get the unit back to dominance
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers’ experiment of bringing in a defensive coordinato2024-05-21Analysis: Larson enters conversation with Verstappen as best drivers in the world
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ask almost any hardcore motorsports fan who the best driver in the world is righ2024-05-21- Over the past two decades, Gee’s Bend quilts have captured the public’s imagination with their kalei2024-05-21
atest comment