US drug overdose fatalities declined in 2023 after increasing for five successive years.
In 2023, around 107,500 individuals lost their lives due to drug overdoses, as indicated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. This figure is approximately 3,500 lower than the previous year's. This marks the first decline in overdose deaths since 2018, although the 3% drop seems minor in comparison to the surges that led to an all-time high in recent years. The number of overdose fatalities jumped by 30% between 2019 and 2020, and then rose further by 15% between 2020 and 2021 according to CDC data.
While this decline is certainly welcoming, statistics suggest that, even with the decrease, overdose deaths in 2023 were approximately twice as high as they were half a decade ago. Dr. Katherine Keyes, a professor at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health whose research focuses on substance use epidemiology, said it's a hopeful trend that deserves acknowledgment, but it's no reason to lessen the efforts in preventing overdose fatalities.
Fentanyl has been the major contributor to the ongoing wave of overdose deaths, as it's featured in more than two-thirds of the observed fatalities. These incredibly potent narcotics play a substantial role, being involved in nearly 70% of deaths from overdose in 2023. However, there were around 1,500 less fatalities in 2023 than in the previous year which were caused by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
Despite this, fentanyl remains an alarming threat, considering it is about 50 times more potent than heroin. A study published on Monday revealed a concerning rise in law enforcement seizures of illicit fentanyl. More than 115 million fentanyl pills were retrieved by law enforcement agencies in 2023, which is up from about 71 million in 2022, and significantly more than the less than 50,000 from 2017.
“Fentanyl has infiltrated the drug supply in communities across the United States and it is a very risky time to use drugs, even casually,” Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said in a statement. She didn't directly involve in the study, but the research was funded by the federal agency. "Illicit pills are designed to look like genuine prescription pills, but may contain fentanyl instead. It is pressing to be aware that any tablets given to someone by a friend, obtained on social media, or procured from any other source other than a drugstore could be potentially fatal—even after a single swallow."
Fentanyl-related fatalities might still be high, Keyes noted, but the positive trends highlight substantial, multi-faceted efforts from various sectors. These efforts include: introducing treatments for opioid use disorders, increasing access to naloxone and other harm reduction programs, and reducing opioid prescriptions.
“This has been a tremendous success story for public health,” Keyes said.
Albeit the decline in deaths caused by opioids, there has been an uptick in those related to cocaine and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine, according to preliminary data from the CDC. More than 36,000 deaths involved psychostimulants in 2023, a 2% increase from the year before, and deaths arising from cocaine rose 5% to reach almost 30,000. Approximately a third of all overdose deaths in 2023 resulted from psychostimulants, and cocaine was a factor in over a quarter.
Much of the growth in stimulant-related fatalities is likely attributed to the fentanyl infiltration in the illicit drug supply, Keyes said. "We know that when stimulants are combined with opioids, it's particularly lethal."
Varying levels of overdose deaths persist across states, with significant differences year over year. Some Western states such as Washington and Oregon witnessed notable increases, with overdose deaths surging by at least 27% each year. Meanwhile, overdose deaths declined in other states, including Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana, and Maine, by at least 15%.
“State-to-state differences point to the need for continuous expansion of these efforts," Keyes said. "However, nationwide trends demonstrate the potential to tackle the opioid epidemic. This isn't an inevitable situation."
Moreover, teen drug use levels have remained relatively low and slipped recently in the United States. On the other hand, an estimated 1.5 million adults and adolescents in the U.S. have a drug use disorder, and overdose deaths have been on the rise among this age group.
Recent studies have revealed that if youngsters postpone commencing substance usage by a single year, they are less likely to indulge in drug usage for the rest of their lives. This is a scenario we're witnessing right now, according to Volkow. While this trend is certainly promising, maintaining an open dialogue with adolescents regarding the dangerous consequences of substance abuse, highlighting the presence of fatal fentanyl in illicit drugs and pills, is crucial.
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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics reported that 107,500 individuals lost their lives due to drug overdoses in 2023, which is approximately 3,500 fewer fatalities than the previous year.Despite the decline in drug overdose deaths in 2023, preliminary data from the CDC indicates an uptick in overdose fatalities related to cocaine and psychostimulants such as methamphetamine, with more than 36,000 deaths involving psychostimulants in 2023, a 2% increase from the year before.
Source: edition.cnn.com
