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
Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates
PHOENIX (AP) — The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which has planned presidential fa2024-05-21Under mounting pressure, Biden opts to press for ceasefire in Gaza
By Matthew Rusling, Xiong Maoling (Xinhua) 09:00, March 02, 2024Israeli troops conduct military oper2024-05-21Over 800 officials from U.S., Britain, Europe unite to protest Israel policies
(Xinhua) 13:33, February 04, 2024BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Over 800 officials in the United States2024-05-21Sri Lanka extends demining body's tenure for landmine free nation
(Xinhua) 09:09, February 26, 2024COLOMBO, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government has decided2024-05-21Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
WALNUT, Calif. (AP) — Chase Dodd started swimming when he was just a kid. Once he began playing wate2024-05-21Trump critic Chris Christie exits 2024 U.S. presidential race
(Xinhua) 14:58, January 11, 2024NEW YORK, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Former New Jersey Governor Chris Chris2024-05-21
atest comment