WVU in the News: The Good News About Overdose Deaths in the U.S.

New data from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System released in February 2025 revealed nearly a 24% decline in drug overdose deaths in the United States for the 12 months ending in September 2024 compared to the previous year. Provisional data shows there were about 87,000 drug overdose deaths from October 2023 to September 2024, down from 114,000 the previous year. This is the fewest overdose deaths reported in any 12-month period since June 2020.

Great Progress in West Virginia

West Virginia is the state most experts point to because it had the most deaths per capita and was ground zero for the OxyContin, heroin, and fentanyl epidemics. The latest West Virginia data shows a 38% decrease in overdose deaths from January to July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This reduction translates into 318 more people alive today.

According to WVU Chairman of Psychiatry James Berry, D.O., “I am very proud of the work West Virginia has done in decreasing the rate of overdose deaths. This is a combination of many factors and many dedicated, compassionate people working incredibly hard to save lives.”