Drug overdose deaths in the United States are set to decline by 17% between July 2023 and July 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a new report released Wednesday.
since 2021More than 100,000 people have it died from overdose Every year in the United States. There was a record number of overdose deaths – more than 108,000 – Entered in 2022Numbers decline in 2023 monthly decline continued Throughout 2024.
While overdose deaths for 2024 have not yet been calculated, and will not until the end of the year, the CDC said deaths declined by 17% over the one-year period. Neera Tanden, an adviser to the White House Domestic Policy Council, said on Wednesday that this is the largest reduction in deaths ever seen in the United States.
white House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Dr. Rahul Gupta said the decrease shows that the Biden administration's efforts to reduce overdose deaths are working.
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Gupta said, “For many years, drug traffickers counted their money while we counted our debt. And we need to change that. We need to understand that this is a global business, and we have to come to terms with it.” Needs to be treated like that.”
Making treatment more accessible and cracking down on cartel leaders and drug production, including working closely with China, Gupta said production of precursor chemicals in synthetic opioids fentanylHas helped save more than 500,000 American lives.
Gupta also gave credit for the recent expansion naloxonea medicine that can reverse opioid overdoseSome naloxone products are now Available over-the-counter,
“A soldier or trauma doctor will tell you that the very first thing you need to do is stop the bleeding,” Gupta said. “If you don't do it, nothing else matters. We can't treat dead people.”
The majority of overdose deaths in the United States involve opioids, including fentanyl. There has been a decrease in such deaths CBS News first reportedBut deaths related to it have increased psychostimulants like meth and cocaine,