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Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. increased steadily for over two decades, in large part due to opioids.

That's until recently. New data from the CDC found that 2024 saw the largest one-year decline ever recorded, and that 27 percent drop was felt across the

country. Every state except two saw fewer overdose deaths. The drop comes after an aggressive

public health response from the Biden administration and local efforts, which made the overdose

reversal drug naloxone more accessible. Opioid settlement funds have also

made their way to states as drug companies are held responsible for fueling deaths. This week,

50 states, along with the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories, agreed to a $7.4 billion

settlement with Purdue Pharma, which sold and marketed OxyContin.

But the crisis is far from over.

Drug overdose deaths are still the leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 44.

We heard from some of you who have been affected.

I am a mother of three after losing my 19-year-old son in November of 2021 to fentanyl overdose.

And since then, I have created a small nonprofit to provide support and education to young people in the prevention of this devastating loss.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

In March, the Trump administration abruptly canceled over $11 billion in grants funding mental health

and addiction treatment programs aimed at reducing overdose deaths.

That has a lot of people worried about what will happen to the tools that have

helped reverse the epidemic's trend. What can we learn from looking at the recent decline in drug

deaths and what could federal cuts mean for that progress? We take a closer look after this short

...