U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease Almost 27% in 2024

Provisional data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics indicate there were an estimated 80,391 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2024-a decrease of 26.9% from the 110,037 deaths estimated in 2023.

Annual drug overdose deaths are projected to reach their lowest level since 2019.

Almost all states across the nation saw decreases; Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., experienced declines of 35% or more. In contrast, South Dakota and Nevada had slight increases compared to the same period in 2023.

The new data show overdose deaths involving opioids decreased from an estimated 83,140 in 2023 to 54,743 in 2024. Overdose deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants (like methamphetamine) decreased as well.