It's the Brian Lairn on WNYC.

Good morning again, everyone.

Now we'll turn to a story that isn't getting much coverage in the media, but impacts so many Americans. Nearly one-third of adults

in the U.S. know of someone who has died of a drug overdose. That's from a 2024 study published

in JAMA. But recent data show that deaths from fentanyl and synthetic opioid overdoses have been

declining since mid-20203. Interesting. They've gone from

almost 85,000 in a year down to 48,000 in the year ending in April 2025. That's the most recent

data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's still a lot of overdose deaths, but also a really big decline.

Researchers are cautioning that it's not possible to identify a single driver of the decline.

They point to several policy actions, like access to treatment and overdose reversal drugs,

as well as increased public awareness.

They also noticed the change on the supply side, with apparently a crackdown on fentanyl happening in China,

starting in 2023, that seems to have reduced the quantity and potency coming into the United States.

And more recently, we also have the Trump administration attacks

on suspected drug boats coming toward this country. They cite fentanyl is the reason for those

attacks. Definitely too early to see if those are actually mattering, but we'll ask our guest

about those too. It's Lev Fasher, addiction reporter at Stat News, the health news site. Lev, thanks for coming on.

Welcome to WNYC.

Morning, Brian. Thank you.

And listeners, help us report this story if you have a story of yourself or someone you know.

Are you recovering from opioid use disorder? Maybe you have a friend or family member who is what has been the most

helpful component of their recovery or your recovery that may have saved you from the potential

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