U.S. drug overdose deaths fall for second year Image By HPN Staff Key Points Provisional CDC data show approximately 73,000 overdose deaths in the 12 months ending August 2025 a 21% decrease from the prior year, continuing the reversal that began in 2024 after fatalities had exceeded 100,000 annually. Officials attribute the decline to expanded naloxone access, wider use of medications for opioid use disorder, opioid settlement funding (including a $7 billion Purdue Pharma judgment), reduced opioid prescribing and possible shifts in fentanyl supply and potency. Overdose deaths remain far above pre-pandemic levels and are still a leading cause of death for Americans under 45; experts warn gains could stall without sustained treatment access, harm reduction efforts and monitoring of evolving multi-drug threats. U.S. drug overdose deaths continued to decline for a second consecutive year, with provisional federal data showing about 73,000 deaths in the 12 months ending in August 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is about 21 percent fewer than the prior year, extending the reversal first documented in 2024 after decades of rising fatalities driven largely by fentanyl. The figures show decreases in most states, though some regions continue to see increases. Health officials cautioned that the numbers remain provisional and that overdose deaths are still far above pre-pandemic levels. Why it matters The decline represents a shift in the trajectory of the nation’s deadliest drug crisis. In 2024, the CDC reported the largest one-year drop in overdose deaths on record, after annual fatalities had topped 100,000. Overdose deaths remain a leading cause of death for Americans younger than 45, according to the CDC, making even incremental progress significant for public health systems and communities. Federal and state officials point to expanded access to naloxone, wider availability of medications for opioid use disorder and increased funding from opioid settlement dollars. That includes a recent $7 billion judgment against Purdue Pharma, which followed years of legal battles and will be distributed to support treatment, prevention, and community programs nationwide. Additionally, fewer opioid prescriptions dispensed have potentially curbed the development of opioid use disorder, opioid misuse, and use of opioids other than as prescribed, according to at least one report. This comes as pharma continues to advance non-opioid pain drugs. Public health experts say the decline could stall without sustained investment and coordination, particularly because many overdose deaths involve multiple substances, including fentanyl, stimulants and sedatives, according to the CDC. The big picture Researchers say changes in the illicit drug supply may also play a role in the decline, particularly shifts in fentanyl availability and potency beginning in mid-2023. Some analysts note similar trends in Canada. Even with two years of declines, overdose deaths still number in the tens of thousands annually, far exceeding levels seen a decade ago. Public health officials say sustaining the downward trend will require continued treatment access, harm reduction and monitoring, while remaining vigilant for shifts in the drug supply that could quickly reverse recent gains. SUGGESTED STORIES States tighten kratom regulations as overdose deaths draw scrutiny As federal regulators consider reclassifying a potent kratom derivative as a controlled substance, states are stepping up efforts to regulate products that have spread widely through gas stations and convenience stores. The substance under review, 7-hydroxymitragynin Read more Study points to dangers of pure fentanyl overdose deaths for U.S. youth Surprising new research suggests the danger of counterfeit drugs made purely of fentanyl is rising for the nation’s youth, even as the overall number of opioid overdose deaths has started to decline. In a study recently published in the journal Read more Signs of progress in fight against opioid deaths A sharp drop in opioid overdose deaths during 2024 may be a sign that new approaches to pain management and prescriptions are working. Yet, the number of lives lost still remains historically high as the nation continues to struggle with the opioid crisis. The U.S. Centers for Disea Read more
States tighten kratom regulations as overdose deaths draw scrutiny As federal regulators consider reclassifying a potent kratom derivative as a controlled substance, states are stepping up efforts to regulate products that have spread widely through gas stations and convenience stores. The substance under review, 7-hydroxymitragynin Read more
Study points to dangers of pure fentanyl overdose deaths for U.S. youth Surprising new research suggests the danger of counterfeit drugs made purely of fentanyl is rising for the nation’s youth, even as the overall number of opioid overdose deaths has started to decline. In a study recently published in the journal Read more
Signs of progress in fight against opioid deaths A sharp drop in opioid overdose deaths during 2024 may be a sign that new approaches to pain management and prescriptions are working. Yet, the number of lives lost still remains historically high as the nation continues to struggle with the opioid crisis. The U.S. Centers for Disea Read more
