The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new data showing a 4% decline in fatal drug overdoses nationwide from 2022 to 2023. However, the trend is not uniform across the country, with some western states experiencing significant increases in overdose deaths.
According to the CDC, the age-adjusted rate of US fatal drug overdoses decreased from 32.6 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 31.3 in 2023. The decline was most pronounced for synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, which saw a drop of 1.5% from 22.7 to 22.2.
While the overall trend is encouraging, some states are bucking the national pattern. Alaska, Oregon, and Washington reported significant increases in their fatal overdose rates, with the absolute numbers still relatively high. For example, Alaska saw 49.4 fatal overdoses per 100,000 people in 2023, compared to a national rate of 31.3.
The CDC also notes that some areas experiencing large drops in their overdose rate still have relatively high absolute numbers. Maine, for instance, reported a 17.3% decline in its overdose rate but still had an overall rate of 44.9 per 100,000 people in 2023.
Experts point to emerging trends, such as the “fourth wave” of the opioid crisis, which involves heroin co-use among fentanyl users and fentanyl and stimulant co-use. A recent report from specialty lab Millennium Health highlighted these growing patterns.
While the national data offers a welcome trend, the opioid crisis remains a persistent issue in some regions of the country. As one expert noted, “the opioid crisis rages on like a wildfire stubbornly refusing to be snuffed out.”
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/02/20/drug-overdoses-death-rate-map