After two decades of rising drug overdose deaths in the United States, new data suggest a national decline began in 2023. But the good news comes with a troubling caveat: racial and age-related disparities are deepening.
According to a report published in JAMA Network Open, the national overdose death rate peaked at 33 per 100,000 people in August 2023. By October 2024, it had dropped to 24 per 100,000. The decline was most pronounced in opioid-related deaths, which fell faster than those linked to stimulants.
Researchers point to several possible reasons for the shift, including changes in drug markets, expanded access to treatment, and harm reduction strategies. Regional trends also varied, with the Northeast, Midwest, and South seeing earlier peaks in October 2022.
Yet the overall decline masks a disturbing trend. Overdose deaths continued to rise among American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial populations. Adults aged 55 and older also saw increasing death rates. These groups are being left behind even as national numbers improve.
The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions that address the unique challenges faced by communities of color and older adults. Without focused efforts, the nation’s progress in reducing overdose deaths may come at the cost of widening health inequities.
See “US Overdose Deaths Are Declining but Inequities Persist” (July 2, 2025)
