US Drug Deaths Under 35: Declining Rates | NPR
- A steep decline in drug overdose deaths among young people in the U.S.
- Justin Carlyle, 23, of Philadelphia, began using drugs at age 13 and has struggled with fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine addiction.
- Nabarun Dasgupta, an addiction researcher at the University of North Carolina, noted a "massive reduction" in fatal overdose risk, especially among Gen Z.He said the risk has...
Drug Overdose Deaths Plummeting Among Young Adults in the U.S.
Updated June 10,2025
drug addictions for 10 years. Drug deaths among young adults are plummeting. Rachel Wisniewski for NPR
A steep decline in drug overdose deaths among young people in the U.S. is offering a glimmer of hope amid the
ongoing opioid crisis. Provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates a
meaningful drop in fatalities among those under 35.
Justin Carlyle, 23, of Philadelphia, began using drugs at age 13 and has struggled with fentanyl, cocaine, and
crack cocaine addiction. Speaking in Kensington, he recounted his experiences with increasingly perilous street
drugs. Carlyle said he has overdosed three times and been revived with naloxone.
Nabarun Dasgupta, an addiction researcher at the University of North Carolina, noted a “massive reduction” in
fatal overdose risk, especially among Gen Z.He said the risk has been cut in half for those ages 20 to 29.
CDC data shows that fatal overdoses among those under 35 fell from over 31,000 in 2021 to roughly 16,690 last
year. This decline represents a significant shift in the trajectory of drug-related deaths among young adults.
Jon Epstein, who lost his son Cal to fentanyl in 2020, said that young adults “beat fentanyl.” Epstein now works
with Song for Charlie, a drug awareness group focused on young people.
What’s next
The reasons behind this decline are still being studied, but increased awareness, access to naloxone, and
evolving attitudes toward drug use may be contributing factors. Continued efforts to address the root causes of
addiction and provide support for those struggling with substance use disorders are crucial to sustaining this
positive trend.