For the first time in a long while, Americas drug overdose crisis has not gotten worse.
Its the first time in five years that reported overdose deaths in America have declined.
Encouraging as the latest data is, the numbers are still far abovehistorical trends.
New CDC data shows that total overdose deaths declined by 3% in the U.S. between 2022 ro 2023.Photo: Craig Hudson (AP)
The slight decline also follows a dramatic surge in deaths that first started in 2020.
The toll of the overdose crisis hasnt affected all Americans equally either, Vakharia says.
So its certainly possible that the same trend could have happened last year.
Some interventions promoted by advocates, such as safe consumption sites, have yet to be widely implemented.
The early data from the first government-sanctioned sites, which opened in NYC in 2021, has been encouraging.
It suggests that these programs can prevent fatal overdoses without causing anearby rise in crime or public disorder.
Every life lost is one too manyit is someones child, loved one, friend, or family member.
Drug overdose deaths are preventable.
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