>>Virginia Sees A 35 Percent Drop In Overdose Deaths
(Atlanta, GA) -- The CDC reports that drug overdose deaths are declining in the U.S., with a significant drop in Virginia. More from Liz Kennedy.Preview: According to the health agency, there were 30-thousand fewer drug overdose deaths in 2024, marking the largest one-year decline ever recorded. Virginia was one of eight states that saw overdose deaths fall by at least 35-percent. Experts say more research needs to be done to understand what drove the reduction, but said several possible factors, including increased availability of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone [[ nuh - laak - sown ]], expanded addiction treatment and shifts in how people use drugs. However, annual overdose deaths are higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.