New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the rate of fatal drug overdoses in the US dropped by 4% from 2022 to 2023, Axios reports.
However, while the overall trend is encouraging, certain regions—particularly in the West and Alaska—saw overdose deaths increase significantly.
The CDC reported that the age-adjusted fatal overdose rate fell from 32.6 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 31.3 in 2023. The decline is likely linked to reduced social isolation following the COVID-19 pandemic and increased access to life-saving treatments such as naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses.
While the overall rate for synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, also fell slightly from 22.7 to 22.2 per 100,000 people, certain states experienced the opposite trend. Alaska, Oregon, and Washington reported major increases in fatal overdoses, with Alaska’s rate reaching 49.4 per 100,000, Oregon at 40.8, and Washington at 42.4—all well above the national average.
Even in states where overdose rates declined, challenges remain. Maine, for instance, saw a 17.3% decrease in its overdose rate between 2022 and 2023, yet it still recorded a high fatality rate of 44.9 per 100,000 people.
Additionally, a report from specialty lab Millennium Health highlights growing concerns about the co-use of heroin with fentanyl, as well as fentanyl combined with stimulants. These patterns contribute to what experts call the “fourth wave” of the opioid epidemic, complicating efforts to curb overdose deaths.
