Jeffrey A. Singer
Jeffrey A. Singer
Brian Mann of NPR News reports today on encouraging new data released by the National Center for Health Statistics showing that overdose deaths from all drugs have dropped from a high of nearly 112,000 just over a year ago to 97,309 by April 2024, a drop of more than 10 percent. Overdose deaths from all classes of drugs dropped during that period. Fentanyl-related overdose deaths dropped from nearly 78,000 to 65,878, and overdoes deaths involving diverted prescription pain pills remained very low, falling to just over 9,000 (compared to 12,269 in January 2016).
This is good news. But it’s too early to celebrate. Ninety-seven thousand is a considerable number, and we have seen the overdose death rate pause (in 2018) before resuming its climb. However, many factors may contribute if this is the beginning of a new downward trend.
The overdose antidote naloxone, which the Food and Drug Administration allowed people to obtain over-the-counter in its nasal spray form last year, has become more widely available. All but a few states have now amended their drug paraphernalia laws to allow people to distribute and use fentanyl test strips to check drugs obtained on the black market for the presence of this potent synthetic opioid. Harm reduction organizations are handing out naloxone and fentanyl test strips to people who use drugs, often as part of syringe services programs. Local public health agencies have implemented campaigns to educate non-medical users about the availability of these harm-reduction tools and how to use them. As more non-medical users—and people who know and care about them— avail themselves of these tools, they reduce the risk of fatal overdose.
Congress made it easier for clinicians to treat people with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder starting in 2023. While early evidence shows clinicians have not been quick to take advantage of the liberalized regulations, » Read More
https://www.cato.org/blog/encouraging-report-overdose-deaths