NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Wednesday. Agency officials noted the data is provisional and could change after more analysis, but that they still expect a drop when the final counts are in. It would be only the second annual decline since the current national drug death epidemic began more than three decades ago. Experts reacted cautiously. One described the decline as relatively small, and said it should be thought more as part of a leveling off than a decrease. Another noted that the last time a decline occurred — in 2018 — drug deaths shot up in the years that followed. “Any decline is encouraging,” said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends. “But I think it’s certainly premature to celebrate or to draw any large-scale conclusions about where we may be headed long-term with this crisis.” |
UK gov't considers ban on foreign states owning British news mediaUN human development report shows China's great progressCabinet vows to deliver on policy pledgesWang Yi reiterates support to AfricaBeijing urges respect in South China Sea disputeXi congratulates Zardari on Pakistan presidency winChinese FM denounces 'freedom of speech' in U.S.China's courts see over 100 percent increase in judicial transparencySOEs crucial to China's economic growthGlobal South main force behind reforming international order, Wang says