Experts Explore Why Fentanyl Fatalities Are Declining

Fentanyl death rates in the United States are plummeting and experts are eager to learn why. Nationwide, fentanyl-related deaths have decreased more than 26% from the June 2023 peak. That equates to roughly 30,000 fewer lives lost each year. 

And some states are seeing an even steeper decline of up to 50% fewer lives lost annually. The data baffled some but there may be reasons for this hopeful trend. Authorities are weighing in with some possible reasons for the decline:

One of the biggest game changers may be Naloxone, also known as Narcan. This nasal spray can quickly reverse an opioid overdose when used in time. Additionally, it can be purchased over the counter now, which makes it easier to obtain. 

Experts also suggest that fentanyl may be weaker now. The sellers could have changed their combinations, perhaps in response to increasing political and legal pressure in the US, China, and Mexico. 

In addition the street supply appears to be dwindling somewhat. The gangs selling this deadly drug are mixing various cocktails that don’t include as much fentanyl. That’s not to claim that street drugs are safe by any means. Many of today’s illicit drugs are adulterated by other potentially deadly additives, such as animal tranquilizers and toxic chemicals.

Authorities also note the profound impacts of increased public health awareness and improved access to treatment for opioid addiction. Medical detox and medication assisted treatment for persons in opioid recovery are now covered by many major insurance providers, including Medicaid. 

Unfortunately, though much progress has been made, the impacts of the opioid epidemic have been devastating and the most vulnerable among us have been hardest hit. At the height of the crisis, approximately 110,000 people in the U.S. were dying each year from opioid-related causes and this means that those most at risk of dying of fentanyl exposure may have already succumbed. 

Experts also point to an unexpected cause of the decline in fentanyl death rates: the waning pandemic. As COVID fades into memory, we’re experiencing less isolation and a return to normalcy. We’re healthier, happier, and more connected than we’ve been since the virus struck. And this, theoretically, decreases the severity of drug misuse and increases the likelihood of treatment and recovery.

It seems that people are more careful with fentanyl today as well. Authorities suggest that fentanyl users may be more adapted to fentanyl risks and are smoking it instead of injecting it, which may be somewhat safer. 

Finally but perhaps most promising of all are the early indications that fewer young people are using drugs today. Research suggests that teens and young adults are using drugs at a significantly lower rate than in previous generations, which means a decline in overall death rates. 

No one knows how long this U.S. trend will continue. The hope is that it will gain more steam moving forward and that the epidemic of opioid addiction may soon be over.