Overdose deaths in the U.S. declined by 27% in 2024, reaching the lowest levels since 2019, according to CDC data published May 14.
There were an estimated 80,391 overdose deaths in 2024, down from 110,037 in 2023.
Here are five things to know from the latest data:
- Overdose deaths declined in almost every state. Rates in Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. dropped by more than 35%.
- Deaths increased slightly in Nevada and South Dakota.
- Fentanyl remained the most common drug involved in overdose deaths, accounting for 60% of deaths. The number of fentanyl deaths decreased by 37% from 2023 to 2024.
- Overdose deaths spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching a high of 112,582 in 2022.
- Overdose remains the leading cause of death among adults aged 18-44, according to the CDC.
See the full data set here.
