"After years of rising, the tide may finally be turning on deadly drug overdoses in America.
Drug overdose deaths fell 12.7% in the 12 months ending in May,
according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
“This is the largest recorded reduction in overdose deaths,” White House officials said in a statement. “And the sixth consecutive month of
reported decreases in predicted 12-month total numbers of drug overdose deaths.”
It’s also the first time since early 2021 that the number of estimated
drug overdose deaths for a 12-month period fell below 100,000, to
98,820.
..
It’s unclear what prompted the sudden, unexpected decline. Overdose
reduction strategies like increased availability of Narcan, a rescue
medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, were in use long before
the abrupt drop.
“We’ve been doing the things we’re doing for over 10 years. I’d love to say it’s finally working,” said Dr. Joan Papp, an emergency physician at Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medical Center. “But boy, I don’t know. I wish I knew so I could bottle it.”
One potential factor at play: People are no longer using drugs in
isolation as they did during the height of the pandemic. Now, they’re
more likely to use around other people who could call 911 or give a dose
of Narcan. "
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/drug-overdose-deaths-fall-6-months-straight-officials-wonder-working-rcna175888
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