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.” |
Argentina's FM to visit ChinaChinese FM meets with Thai Princess Sirindhorn in BeijingIran vows 'harsher' response should Israel 'make another mistake'China to improve management of midwife serviceChina calls for early end of catastrophe on PalestiniansDick Van Dyke, 98, jokes he'll vote for Abraham Lincoln over Biden and Trump as the youngChina rejects US, Japan, Philippines concern on South China SeaCBA playoffs: Shanghai beat Zhejiang to even seriesStock market today: Asian shares rise, cheered by last week's tech rally on Wall StreetChina willing to deepen strategic mutual trust with Indonesia: Wang Yi