Story perspectives

Overdose Deaths Drop 14% Amid New Super-Opioid, Funding Cuts

5/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2025 data show U.S. drug-overdose deaths fell 14 % to 68,632, the third consecutive annual decline.
Federal toxicology labs identified 27 drugs in 2025 and 23 in 2026, including cychlorphine, an opioid ten times fentanyl's strength.
White House released a 200-page drug strategy calling for wastewater testing and AI tools, while Drug Policy Alliance warned funding cuts to harm-reduction services increase overdose harms.

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Story summary

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2025 data show U.S. drug-overdose deaths fell 14 % to 68,632, the third consecutive annual decline.
Federal toxicology labs identified 27 drugs in 2025 and 23 in 2026, including cychlorphine, an opioid ten times fentanyl's strength.
White House released a 200-page drug strategy calling for wastewater testing and AI tools, while Drug Policy Alliance warned funding cuts to harm-reduction services increase overdose harms.