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.” |
3 dead, 3 wounded in early morning shooting in Ohio's capitalAmerica's first Black astronaut candidate finally goes to space 60 years later on Bezos rocketBryson DeChambeau puts on a show but somehow comes up short at PGA ChampionshipJuventus appoints Montero as interim coach for final 2 matches after Allegri fired11 hurt in mass shooting that marked a weekend of gun violence in Savannah, GeorgiaJuventus appoints Montero as interim coach for final 2 matches after Allegri firedJurgen Klopp welcomes likely successor Arne Slot with a song in Liverpool farewellLate crash knocks Nolan Siegel out of Indianapolis 500, keeps Ericsson and Rahal in starting fieldThe gonzo trans Mexican drug lord musical 'Emilia Perez' lights up CannesMan suspected of shooting 6