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.” |
China marks 120th birth anniversary of late senior CPC leaderChina's Einstein Probe astronomical satellite captures its first inChina's Li wins two golds at IWF World CupProportion of Chinese citizens with scientific literacy reaches 14.14 pctMassive flooding hits China's GuangdongBeijing, Shanxi force tieSpain is in suspense waiting for Pedro Sánchez to say whether he will resign or stay in officeCapitals' Alex Ovechkin has no points in an NHL playoff series for the 1st timeSpring Festival travel rush sees 34.74 mln trips on first dayMichael Jackson's iconic sequined 'Billie Jean' jacket