The youth (defined as ages 15-24) overdose death rate is now declining below pre-pandemic levels, and recent data indicate that other age groups may be displaying similar patterns. Data from 2024 show a 37 percent decline in youth overdose deaths since 2023.
From 2018 to 2020, the youth overdose death rate rose by 55 percent, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being a dominant cause. Youth may be unknowingly exposed to fentanyl by purchasing contaminated substances or counterfeit pills on social media.
The recent declines are being attributed to sustained public health efforts to distribute Naloxone (a life-saving overdose reversal drug), expanded access to addiction treatment, and decreases in opioid misuse among high school students, especially boys.
The youth (ages 15-24) overdose death rate has trended below pre-pandemic levels
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2024 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2026. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2024, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10-expanded.html
Disparities still exist in overdose deaths
Among the overall population, the overdose death rate varies significantly by gender and race. The 2024 overdose death rate for men (34.4 per 100,000 people) is more than double that of women (14.4). The overdose death rates for American Indian/Alaska Native (52.7) and Black (40.9) people are roughly double those among White (23.3) and Hispanic (21.6) people and more than 10 times the rate for Asian (3.8) people.
For more information on overdose deaths, or to partner with Child Trends, please contact Andra Wilkinson at awilkinson@childtrends.org.