Fact-check · Oct 13, 2026
“Fentanyl linked deaths plunged twenty two percent in a single year”
FALSE
What the record shows
CDC data shows fentanyl-involved deaths declined 36.5% from 2023 to 2024 (from 76,282 to 48,422 deaths), not 22%.
The claim understates the actual decline by 14.5 percentage points. CDC WONDER analysis confirms 36.5% decline year-over-year.
Sources
- Decreased fentanyl potency as the primary driver of the ...
- Drug overdose deaths fell sharply in 2024, as fentanyl cases dropped but meth spiked
- CDC Reports 14% Drop in U.S. Overdose Deaths for 2025
- 2024 Opioid Overdose Data Report: Key Trends and Insights
- Tracking San Francisco’s drug overdose epidemic
- U.S. Overdose Deaths Decrease for Third Consecutive Year in 2025
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