After decades of increases, the U.S. is now seeing a steep decline in drug overdoses nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drug overdose deaths declined 12.7 percent in the 12 months ending in May this year, preliminary data from the CDC said.

“This is the largest reduction in overdose deaths ever recorded,” White House officials said in a statement. “And the estimated 12-month total number of drug overdose deaths has declined for the sixth consecutive month.”

According to the data released, this is the first time since 2021 that the estimated number of drug overdose deaths in 12 months has fallen below 100,000 to 98,820.

Health officials were surprised at how the numbers dropped

Health experts — who have been working for decades to stem the rising pace of opioid-related deaths, mostly caused by fentanyl — say while this is good news, they are puzzled by how suddenly the number of deaths has dropped. Has occurred. Although it is unclear what caused the sudden and unexpected drop, there are several theories that they are pursuing.

According to officials, there has been an increase in the availability of overdose reduction strategies such as Narcan – an opioid antagonist Indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose – it has been used extensively even before the sudden drop in numbers.

“We are doing the same thing we have been doing for more than 10 years. I’d love to say it’s finally working,” CBS News quoted Dr. Joan Papp, an emergency physician at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, as saying. “But boy, I don’t know. I wish I knew so I could bottle it.

According to experts, one reason for the decline in numbers could also be the lack of dependence on medicines after the pandemic. Doctors say more people are now either using drugs in the presence of others or calling 911 before the situation becomes serious.

Data shows drug overdose cases have declined in 41 states

CDC data shows that drug overdose deaths have declined significantly in at least 41 states over the past 12 months. Even the country’s largest metropolitan area — New York City — saw small but measurable declines.

According to the data, in 2023, 3,046 people died of drug overdoses in the city — a 1 percent decrease from 2022 and the first decline in overdose deaths in New York since 2018.

Similarly, in Seattle, the national trend was echoed as the city had 22 percent fewer overdose deaths in the first nine months of this year compared to last year. The number of non-fatal overdoses also declined. Officials say about 85 percent of people who use drugs in Seattle also carry Narcan.

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