U.S. President Donald Trump looks on, befrore departing for Florida from the South Lawn, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 16, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
(New York, New York) – Provisional data released by the National Center for Health Statistics shows an estimated 80,391 overdose deaths nationwide in 2024, down 26.9% from 110,037 deaths in 2023. The drop puts the country on track for its lowest overdose death total since 2019.
The decline comes as Donald Trump returned to office pledging aggressive action against drug cartels and human smuggling organizations, with federal officials pointing to intensified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting fentanyl distribution routes.
Opioids, Fentanyl See Sharpest Drops
According to the CDC’s provisional estimates, opioid-related deaths fell from 83,140 in 2023 to 54,743 in 2024, a massive decline driven largely by fewer deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Estimated overdose deaths by drug type show steep reductions across the board:
Synthetic opioids (fentanyl): 48,422 deaths in 2024, down from 76,282 in 2023
Psychostimulants (including methamphetamine): 29,456, down from 37,096
Cocaine: 22,174, down from 30,833
Natural and semi-synthetic opioids: 8,006, down from 10,511
Health officials note that overdose deaths often involve multiple substances, meaning totals by drug type do not equal the overall death count.
Declines Seen in Nearly Every State
Almost every state recorded fewer overdose deaths in 2024. Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. all saw declines of 35% or more. Only South Dakota and Nevada experienced slight increases compared to 2023.
Federal officials argue the numbers reflect the early impact of stricter border controls, ICE-led enforcement operations, and cartel disruption efforts aimed at choking off fentanyl supply chains.
