America’s fentanyl crisis: There’s good news
Fatal drug overdose deaths in the United States have declined for the third consecutive year, dropping by 12.1 percent. Despite this progress, experts warn that the fentanyl crisis remains a significant threat and requires continued intervention.
Why it matters
The decline in overdose deaths is a major public health milestone, but the persistence of fentanyl-related fatalities highlights the ongoing complexity of the opioid epidemic.
Fatal drug overdoses have plunged since the pandemic – which the Trump administration has celebrated. But the headlines hide new problems and disturbing trends.
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Share A A A Washington : Early in the summer of 2020, Amy Neville found her 14-year-old son Alexander dead in his room at their California home. He had been experimenting with the opioid oxycodone; the single pill that ended his life was laced with enough fentanyl to kill three people.
In the years since, Neville has deployed her agony into seeking change for the better – in particular, lobbying for reforms to social media and children’s safety. Like many his age, Alex had ordered the deadly drugs on the text-and-visual messaging app Snapchat.
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