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.”
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
Teixeira brace sees Shanghai go top in CSL
Voters to decide primary runoffs in Alabama's new 2nd Congressional District
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism
Characters enter the public domain. Winnie the Pooh becomes a killer. Where is remix culture going?
CMG to host major art exhibition in Paris featuring over 200 works
Myanmar's tourism minister extends welcome to Chinese tour group
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
Nations rolling out red carpet for Chinese tourists
Amtrak train hits pickup truck in upstate New York, 3 dead including child
HK, Macao children representatives visit landmarks in Beijing