The latest CDC provisional overdose fatality data is out and continues to show nationwide decline in fatal overdoses through October of 2024, down 26.5% over the last 12 months and 27.6% from its June 2023 12-month high, declining to a level equivalent to May 2020 (shortly after COVID hit). It should be noted that more recent Connecticut data through December 2024 shows significant statewide decline through the end of the year, but early statewide data from January through March 2025 shows a troublesome upward climb, which hopefully will plateau and drop.
On February 25, the CD issued a press release hailing the nationwide decline. It included the following quote from Dr. Allison Arwady, the CDC’s Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “It is unprecedented to see predicted overdose deaths drop by more than 27,000 over a single year. That’s more than 70 lives saved every day. CDC’s public health investments, our improved data and laboratory systems for overdose response, and our partnerships with public safety colleagues in every state mean that we are more rapidly identifying emerging drug threats and supporting public health prevention and response activities in communities across America.”
I fully agree.
The press release went on to hail the great work being done by state and local governments funded with the CDC’s OD2A program funds and its Overdose Response Strategy. I have experience here in Connecticut working with the OD2A grant and the Overdose Response Strategy and can vouch for their excellence and impact.
What I find curious is with all the news reports of the CDC budget being slashed along with many federal grants, I keep waiting to hear that those grants and programs dealing with the opioid crisis are also being cut. I’ve heard rumors of impending cuts in the Trump budget, but nothing final yet. I hope they keep the funding flowing. Dr. Arwady and the CDC press release make a case for it. Lives depend on it.