US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Wednesday.
Agency officials noted the data is provisional and could change after more analysis, but that they still expect a drop when the final counts are in. It would be only the second annual decline since the current national drug death epidemic began more than three decades ago.
Experts reacted cautiously. One described the decline as relatively small, and said it should be thought more as part of a leveling off than a decrease. Another noted that the last time a decline occurred — in 2018 — drug deaths shot up in the years that followed.
“Any decline is encouraging,” said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends. “But I think it’s certainly premature to celebrate or to draw any large-scale conclusions about where we may be headed long-term with this crisis.”
Related articles
Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday declined, for now, to hear a challenge to a Maryland l2024-05-21Chinese vice premier stresses deepening SOE reform
(Xinhua) 08:59, July 19, 2023Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bure2024-05-21Xi welcomes guests attending Chengdu Universiade
(Xinhua) 14:06, July 28, 2023CHENGDU, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday ext2024-05-21Policeman killed in explosion in NW Pakistan
(Xinhua) 17:03, April 07, 2024ISLAMABAD, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A policeman was killed and another inju2024-05-21Everybody may love Raymond, but Ray Romano loves Peter Boyle
NEW YORK (AP) — “Baffling” is how Ray Romano calls the continued success of “Everybody Loves Raymond2024-05-21Mainland spokesperson rebukes DPP for selling out Taiwan people
(Xinhua) 13:36, June 03, 2023BEIJING, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Friday said that2024-05-21
atest comment