US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Wednesday.
Agency officials noted the data is provisional and could change after more analysis, but that they still expect a drop when the final counts are in. It would be only the second annual decline since the current national drug death epidemic began more than three decades ago.
Experts reacted cautiously. One described the decline as relatively small, and said it should be thought more as part of a leveling off than a decrease. Another noted that the last time a decline occurred — in 2018 — drug deaths shot up in the years that followed.
“Any decline is encouraging,” said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends. “But I think it’s certainly premature to celebrate or to draw any large-scale conclusions about where we may be headed long-term with this crisis.”
Related articles
What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
JERUSALEM (AP) — The death of Iran’s president is unlikely to lead to any immediate changes in Iran’2024-05-21- AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine, developed by scientists from the prestigious Oxford University, was mea2024-05-21
Polish defense minister fends off criticism after he says he keeps an emergency backpack ready
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s defense minister said Thursday that since early in Russia’s war again2024-05-21Japanese defense aircraft makes emergency landing after window glitch. No injuries were reported
TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese defense aircraft carrying eight people made an emergency landing at a commer2024-05-21- LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s first walk-off hit for the Los Angeles Dodgers was also his first2024-05-21
How safe is AstraZeneca's Covid jab? What are the side effects? And why do victims only have a 3
AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine – once heralded as a 'triumph for science' – is being withdrawn worldwid2024-05-21
atest comment