A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a slight increase in fatal overdoses across the US, reversing a trend of 17 months of declines. The latest data, compiled in January, reveals an estimated 82,138 deaths during the 12-month period ending in January 2025, an increase of around 1,400 deaths from the previous year.
Despite this uptick, overdose deaths remain significantly lower than the peak of 114,664 recorded in August 2023. However, experts are warning that this could be an early warning sign that the decline in fatal overdoses may be fading.
Researchers attribute the sudden drop in overdose deaths to factors such as the end of the COVID pandemic disruptions and weaker fentanyl being sold on US streets. However, with the recent rise, they caution that there may not have been a fundamental change in epidemic dynamics.
According to CDC officials, fluctuations in drug overdose deaths could be caused by various factors, including changes in the illegal drug supply and shifts in access to treatment. The report highlights the need for continued public health investments to research and monitor street drug impacts.
The data also suggests that most of the country is still trending down, with increases primarily driven by upticks in Texas, Arizona, California, and Washington. Experts are calling for bipartisan efforts to curb overdose deaths, emphasizing the importance of maintaining federal support for addiction-related programs and funding for Medicaid.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/18/nx-s1-5436711/overdose-drugs-cdc