New government data shows that U.S. drug overdose deaths appear to be showing a sustained decline. There were about 97,000 overdose deaths in the 12-month period that ended June 30.

Experts are unsure as to what is causing the decline, which saw deaths decrease by some 14% between June 2023 and 2024.

After decades of battling the opioid epidemic, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday that overdose deaths have now declined for the second year in

Overdose deaths declined for the second year in a row, fanning health experts’ hopes that the opioid crisis could be turning around.

"It is a real trend, and that’s great," the CDC director says about a sharp drop in drug overdose deaths. But she also warned, "This can get away from us."