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
Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Uber and Lyft plan to keep operating in Minnesota after the state Legislature2024-05-21Scotland's Lewis Ferguson out of Euro 2024 after injuring knee while playing for Bologna
BOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson will miss the European Championship after i2024-05-21Solomon Islands election to test pro
The upcoming Solomon Islands election will decide if Manasseh Sogavare, its combative, pro-Beijing p2024-05-21Amanda Holden puts on a VERY leggy display in a grey mini
Amanda Holden put on a very leggy display as she returned to work at Heart FM on Monday following Sh2024-05-21Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Yvette Fielding claims her Most Haunted co-star Derek Acorah was a fake who tried to grope and kiss2024-05-21Cambodia's famed Angkor attracts nearly 540,000 int'l tourists in first 9 months
Cambodia's famed Angkor Archeological Park had recorded 539,561 foreign tourists during the firs2024-05-21
atest comment