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Increased access to Narcan may have contributed to the decrease of opioid-related overdose deaths.
After hitting a peak in 2023, the deadliest phase of the fentanyl crisis appears to have passed, as drug overdose deaths continue to decline at an unprecedented rate across the United States.
Why it matters: For the first time, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have reported at least some recovery, signaling a potential turning point in the nation’s battle against the opioid epidemic.
Details: According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overall drug deaths in the U.S. have fallen by roughly 25% from their peak in August 2023. At that time, overdose deaths reached a record high of 114,000. By September 2024, that number had dropped to just under 87,000.
Public health experts attribute this rapid decline to several key factors, including increased access to naloxone (commonly known as Narcan), which is now more widely available. Expanded addiction treatment programs and a reduction in the potency of street fentanyl have also contributed to the decrease in fatalities.
Zooming in on California: California, one of the hardest-hit states, saw its peak in drug overdose deaths in August 2023, with approximately 12,593 fatalities, according to data from the CDC. By September 2024, that number dropped by roughly 20% down to 10,061 deaths.
Local progress: San Bernardino County has also seen a decline in opioid-related deaths after years of sharp increases. In 2023, the county reported 420 opioid-related fatalities, a rate of 19.8 deaths per 100,000 residents. Opioid-related emergency department visits in San Bernardino numbered over 1,000, with 417 hospitalizations, according to the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard.
The hardest-hit area in the county was the 92365 ZIP code covering Newberry Springs, which recorded the highest rate of opioid-related deaths. Non-Hispanic white males between the ages of 30-34 have the largest rate of overdose deaths.
“The opioid crisis is present in our east valley just as it is in all areas throughout the nation, and it has been for some time,” Jessica Ducsay, the executive director of Healthy East Valley, a local nonprofit dedicated to preventing substance use and abuse, told Community Forward via email. “It's likely to have affected a number of your readers in some manner whether having a family/friend with a substance use disorder or knowing someone who has experienced loss from an overdose death. It's devastating and can hit all socio-economic statuses.”
Data from 2017 through 2024 shows the rapid rise and gradual decline of opioid-related deaths in San Bernardino. In the first quarter of 2017, only 31 deaths were reported. That number surged to 420 for a 12-month period ending in 2023. Preliminary data for the 12 months ending in Q2 2024 shows a slight decrease, with 360 recorded deaths. The vast majority of these overdose deaths are related to fentanyl.
One particularly alarming trend has been the impact of fentanyl on young people. Since 2021, 14 teenagers in San Bernardino County have lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses.
In 2023, the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) launched a countywide awareness campaign with the message: “Fentanyl Doesn’t Care. But We Do.” The campaign emphasized the deadly potency of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Because it is tasteless, odorless, and nearly invisible, even a tiny amount—comparable in size to two grains of sand—can cause a fatal overdose.
To combat overdose deaths, free naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray is available to the public through the San Bernardino County Behavioral Health website. The life-saving medication temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
Healthy East Valley also offers free training on how to recognize and respond to a potential opioid overdose using Narcan nasal spray.
“Our goal is to train and equip 20 local businesses to have Narcan on-hand with their AUD or first aid kits,” Ducsay said. “We will also be providing belt carriers for any school site officers or campus supervisors to have readily available if ever needed on school campus.”
Ducsay also shared that Redlands Community Hospital has a new grant with California Bridge Program to offer medical assisted treatment to people who visit the emergency room with an overdose. Through the grant, they are able to provide free community Narcan boxes and testing strips at the following locations:
As of Jan. 13, 322 of the 377 Narcan boxes and 145 of the 200 test strips have been taken
Moving forward: While the decline in overdose deaths offer a glimmer of hope, it is important to stay vigilant. Local organizations such as Healthy East Valley, Inland Harm Reduction, Inland Compassion, Institute for Public Strategies and the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health have been working diligently to bring awareness and offer resources to help prevent overdose deaths.
If you are interested in getting involved, Healthy East Valley is hosting their Drug Free Communities Coalition Meeting on March 21 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The Hall, located at 122 Cajon Street in Redlands. This month’s topic is focusing on National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week to learn more about youth local and national substance use rates and tips on how to reduce and prevent usage. For more information, visit their website here.
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