After a 17-month decline, overdose deaths are trending upward again, according to data published by the CDC in June.
The 12-month period ending in January 2025 saw 82,138 overdose deaths according to the CDC.
The “slight increase” indicates there were more overdose deaths in January 2025 than in January 2024, a CDC spokesperson told NPR.
Here are three things to know:
- The increase follows a 27% decline in overdose deaths in 2024, reaching the lowest levels since 2019.
- Nabarun Dasgupta, PhD, a senior scientist at the University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center, told NPR most of the increases in deaths were concentrated in Washington, California, Texas and Arizona. Most of the country is still trending in the right direction, Dr. Dasgupta said.
- CDC officials told NPR fluctuations in drug overdose death rates can be caused by changes in the illegal drug supply and access to treatment.
