Drop in opioid overdose deaths nears 50% since 2023

By: Tim Henderson

Outlets: Stateline

Published: March 20, 2026

Words: 1,623

Last Updated: 1 day, 4 hours ago

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Since their peak less than three years ago, opioid overdose deaths dropped nearly by half as of October, according to a Stateline analysis. The drop comes as a shrinking fentanyl supply has made the drug weaker and less deadly and volunteer efforts get more people get into treatment.

The weaker fentanyl tracks to a crackdown on materials used to make fentanyl in China around the time U.S. deaths started dropping in 2023. Some experts see …

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