U.S. Sees Decline in Drug Overdoses for First Time in Five Years, But Crisis Remains Severe

Preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that fatal drug overdoses in the U.S. fell by approximately 3% in 2023.

This marks a notable shift from recent years when the surge in street FYL and other potent synthetic drugs, including methamphetamines, led to a dramatic increase in drug-related deaths.

However, the overdose crisis in 2023 remained alarmingly severe, with 107,543 lives lost.

This figure is down from the 111,029 overdose deaths recorded in 2022, but still higher than the 106,699 deaths reported by the CDC in 2021.

Prior to the rise in FYL and methamphetamine use, the U.S. saw significantly fewer overdose deaths, with approximately 53,356 fatalities in 2015.

"We are encouraged by the preliminary data showing a decrease in the overdose death rate for the first time in five years, especially following the period of rapid double-digit increases from 2019-2021," said Dr. Rahul Gupta, White House drug control policy director, in a statement.

Despite the decline, CDC's chief medical officer Deb Houry emphasized that "families and friends are still losing their loved ones to drug overdoses in staggering numbers." She added, "The progress over the last 12 months should inspire us to reinvigorate our efforts, knowing that our strategies are making a difference."

Synthetic Drugs Continue to Pose a Major Threat

In a recent statement for the U.S. National Drug Threat Assessment for 2024, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) head Anne Milgram highlighted the ongoing danger of the overdose crisis.

"The shift from plant-based drugs, like heroin and cocaine, to synthetic, chemical-based drugs, like FYL and methamphetamine, has resulted in the most dangerous and deadly drug crisis the United States has ever faced," Milgram said.

A report published Monday in the International Journal of Drug Policy found that FYL, often disguised as counterfeit prescription pain pills, continues to inundate U.S. communities.

In 2023 alone, law enforcement seized more than 115 million fake pills.

"Illicit FYL availability is skyrocketing in the U.S., and the influx of FYL-containing pills is particularly alarming," noted Joseph Palamar, associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

U.S. officials and drug policy experts say FYL is primarily manufactured and smuggled by Mexican drug cartels using chemicals supplied by Chinese drug gangs.

Opioid Deaths Decline, But Meth and Cocaine Fatalities Rise

The latest CDC data for 2023 reveals that while FYL and other opioids remain the deadliest threat, other street drugs are becoming increasingly dangerous.

FYL-related deaths slightly decreased from 76,226 in 2022 to 74,702 in 2023. Conversely, fatal overdoses from psychostimulants (including methamphetamine) and cocaine increased from 63,991 to 66,169.

Given that many fatal overdoses involve multiple drugs, the numbers attributed to specific substances do not "equal the total number of drug overdose deaths," according to the CDC.

The research also highlighted uneven progress across the U.S. in reducing fatal overdoses.

States like Kansas, Indiana, Maine, and Nebraska saw a decrease in drug deaths by 15% or more, according to the CDC. Conversely, states such as Alaska, Oregon, and Washington experienced increases in drug deaths of at least 27%.

Political Debates Over Strategies to Combat the Overdose Crisis

Efforts to address the overdose crisis have become a contentious issue, fiercely debated in Congress and state legislatures.

Some states, including California and Oregon, are reconsidering drug policies that shifted the response to addiction from a criminal justice model to a public health approach.

However, there is little evidence that stricter drug laws, increased border security, and greater drug seizures have significantly impacted the increasingly toxic street drug supply.

The DEA's latest report found that "no field office [in the U.S.] reported that FYL is less available or more expensive, either of which would indicate a decrease in supply."

Source: NPR