Trump's Fentanyl Crackdown Strategy Under Scrutiny Amid Overdose Death Drop
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The United States saw its largest-ever drop in drug overdose deaths in 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Wednesday.
There were 30,000 fewer overdose deaths compared to the year before, the data showed, at around 80,000. Only two states saw a slight rise: Nevada and South Dakota.
Why It Matters
The shift comes at a time when deaths from illicit fentanyl have been the focus of U.S. lawmakers, especially President Donald Trump, who spoke frequently about the flow of the drug across the U.S.-Mexico border during his election campaign.
What To Know
The CDC said drug overdose deaths were down 27 percent from 110,000 in 2023, and put this in part down to Trump declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency during his first term in 2017.
While rates have fallen since 2023, when former President Joe Biden was in office, experts said that more research was needed to understand what has driven the reduction. Some reasons given were an increase in the availability of overdose-reversing drug naloxone, expanded addiction treatment, and changes in the way people use drugs.
Still, annual overdose deaths are higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, the CDC noted that overdoses are still the leading cause of death for people 18-44 years old, "underscoring the need for ongoing efforts to maintain this progress."
A member of the Portland Fire and Rescue Community Health Assess & Treat (CHAT) team pushes cares for a patient after they were given Narcan for a suspected fentanyl overdose on January 25, 2024.
A member of the Portland Fire and Rescue Community Health Assess & Treat (CHAT) team pushes cares for a patient after they were given Narcan for a suspected fentanyl overdose on January 25, 2024.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Some experts worry that the recent decline could be slowed or stopped by reductions in federal funding and the public health workforce, or a shift away from the strategies that seem to be working.
The Trump administration has largely focused on illicit fentanyl when it comes to drug policy, largely because the synthetic opioid has led to many deaths in recent years. It views this as a border security issue and has sought to crack down on smuggling across the southwest and Canadian borders since January.
The Drug Policy Alliance warned last week that Trump's proposed budget, currently passing through Congress, could put lifesaving programs at risk. The plan includes a $1.1 billion cut to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as well as to the CDC for overdose prevention.
Meanwhile, drug manufacturers, distributors, pharmacy chains and other businesses have settled lawsuits with state and local governments over the painkillers that were a main driver of overdose deaths in the past. The deals over the last decade or so have promised about $50 billion over time, with most of it required to be used to fight addiction.
Another settlement that would be among the largest, with members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma agreeing to pay up to $7 billion, could be approved this year.
The money, along with federal taxpayer funding, is going to various programs, including supportive housing and harm reduction efforts, such as providing materials to test drugs for fentanyl.
What People Are Saying
The CDC, in its statement Wednesday: "CDC remains steadfast in its commitment to prevent substance use disorders before they begin, expanding access to treatment, and strengthening recovery pathways to build a healthier future for all Americans."
What's Next
The CDC said it could continue offering prevention and support services if it receives sustained funding.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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