Reporter's notebook: 8 theories why fentanyl deaths are plummeting

Some 30,000 fewer people are dying every year in the U.S. from fentanyl and other street drugs. This shift has stunned addiction experts, reversing decades of rising death.

Mar 24, 2025 - 15:02
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Reporter's notebook: 8 theories why fentanyl deaths are plummeting
The state of Virginia has seen drug overdose deaths plunge by more than 40% in a single year.  Many other states are seeing improvements above 30%. Why is this happening?  Researchers say it may be a combination of factors, some hopeful and some painful.

Some 30,000 fewer people are dying every year in the U.S. from fentanyl and other street drugs. This shift has stunned addiction experts, reversing decades of rising death.

(Image credit: Spencer Platt)