U.S. overdose deaths drop 14% in 2025, marking third consecutive yearly decline

Preliminary CDC data show about 70,000 overdose deaths in 2025, roughly 14% fewer than in 2024 and similar to 2019 levels before the pandemic.

The decline was observed across major drug categories such as fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine, and most states recorded lower numbers, though seven states, including Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, experienced modest increases.

Researchers like Brandon Marshall of Brown University view the trend as a hopeful sign of a shift in the overdose crisis, but they caution that the overall death toll remains high and the rate of decline slowed.

Experts warn that future policy changes or alterations in the illicit drug supply could reverse the progress, underscoring the need for continued monitoring and intervention.