Drug Overdose Deaths Are Down 13 Percent — but Experts Say the Reason Is Not What You Think and Should Concern You

Drug Overdose Deaths Are Down 13 Percent — but Experts Say the Reason Is Not What You Think and Should Concern You

CDC provisional data released June 17, 2026 project 69,147 drug overdose deaths for the 12 months ending January 2026 — a 13.2% decline. But fentanyl potency changes may explain it.

US Drug Overdose Deaths Drop for Third Consecutive Year

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that drug overdose deaths decreased in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of decline.