In the midst of the nation’s ongoing, multi-decade opioid epidemic, there was a smidge of good news.
In 2023, there were about 1,500 fewer overdose deaths involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in the United States compared to 2022.
However, that 3% year-over-year decrease is a small reversal compared to the larger trend. There were still more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2023, with nearly 75,000 involving synthetic opioids — primarily fentanyl.
To think about that number another way: more than 200 Americans die every day from synthetic opioid overdoses.
Soon after the trend line for synthetic opioid overdoses began to bend sharply upwards about a decade ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved naloxone nasal spray (under the brand name Narcan) as a prescription drug.
In March 2023, naloxone sprays were approved for over-the-counter sales. While the opioid antagonist reverses or reduces the effects of opioids almost immediately and its effect can last for …