U.S. street drug deaths keep dropping, but some Western states see a deadly surge

NPR | By Brian Mann

Published May 28, 2026 at 6:44 AM EDT

Street drug deaths in the U.S. continue to drop fast, declining roughly 14 percent last year (2025). That's according to the latest overdose report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But there are still some big problem areas.

Brian Mann

Brian Mann is NPR's first national addiction correspondent. He also covers breaking news in the U.S. and around the world.

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