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.”
Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds
Companies are trying to attract more smartphone users across Africa. But there are risks
Wood scores 2 as Nottingham Forest ensures Premier League survival by beating Burnley
Europe's far right groups launch unofficial campaign for the European Union elections
Preakness winner Seize the Grey is likely running in the 1st Belmont at Saratoga
Pacers score 39 points in first quarter vs. Knicks to set a Game 7 record
Stolen antique weathervane recovered 40 years later and returned to Vermont
Guimaraes caps Newcastle win at Brentford in Premier League with bucket
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's legal saga could soon end in UK