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
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Yvette Fielding claims her Most Haunted co-star Derek Acorah was a fake who tried to grope and kiss2024-05-21Congestion charging bill derailed at last minute, former MP says
Photo: 123RF2024-05-21Centre that 'put Whangārei on the map' faces financial shortfall
Whangārei's Hundertwasser Art Centre could run out of money by October 2025. Photo: Peter de Graaf /2024-05-21Argentine state news agency Telam shut after Milei threat
By Lucila SigalCarla Guadensi, centre, General Secretary of the Argentine Federation of Press Worker2024-05-21I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £400
I need your help. My friend K has been recently telling our friendship group about how dire his fina2024-05-21- Huge changes to SH1 over the Brynderwyns mean environmental impacts for surrounding native bush and2024-05-21
atest comment