After more than a year of progress in reducing drug overdose deaths, new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that fatal overdoses are once again on the rise in the U.S. The report, which tracked overdose deaths through January 2025, reveals a troubling increase of roughly 1,400 deaths compared to the previous 12-month period.

For context, 2024 marked an unprecedented 27% drop in overdose deaths, giving many advocates hope that we had reached a turning point in the crisis. But now, with approximately 82,138 lives lost in the latest 12-month stretch, it’s clear that any gains remain fragile. The causes are complex: shifting drug supplies, cuts to public health funding, and barriers to treatment and support.

This is not just a statistical uptick—it’s a signal. A warning that now is not the time to retreat from investing in addiction services, Medicaid, and harm reduction strategies. It’s a reminder that the fight to save lives must be ongoing, bipartisan, and rooted in the lived experience of those most affected.

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