For the first time in decades, overdose deaths across the U.S. have seen a significant decline, marking a potential turning point in the opioid crisis, according to a Sept. 18 NPR report.
Public health data from the CDC shows a roughly 10.6% drop in drug overdose fatalities nationwide, with experts predicting the final figures may reflect an even steeper decline.
Nora Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, described the trend to the news outlet as "exciting" and "very real." Some states, especially those in the eastern U.S., are seeing declines of 20-30%, according to experts like Nabarun Dasgupta, PhD, of the University of North Carolina.
Experts credit expanded access to treatments for opioid disorder, the widespread access of overdose-reversal drug naloxone and harm reduction programs as key factors in the decline.
While many addiction and public health experts express cautious optimism, challenges still remain with synthetic opioids like fentanyl.