In a surprising and long-overdue shift, the United States has seen a meaningful reduction in overdose deaths. According to the CDC, there was a 27 percent national decline in fatal overdoses between 2023 and 2024—the largest single-year drop since the opioid epidemic began over two decades ago¹.
For those in the substance use disorder (SUD) field, this news brings hope—but also caution. After years of worsening numbers, what has finally worked, and how do we ensure it lasts?
Local Victories, National Trends
The national drop is reflected in state and city-level data. In New York, overdose deaths fell by 32 percent in 2024². The state expanded naloxone access, implemented more drug court referrals, and funded community-based treatment programs. Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas, overdose fatalities dropped from 486 to 380—a 22 percent decrease—thanks to peer recovery programs and greater harm reduction funding³.
Similar patterns are emerging in cities like Wichita, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, where vending machines now distribute naloxone for free, and fentanyl test strips have been legalized and widely distributed⁴. These efforts reflect a broader trend: harm reduction is saving lives, especially when coupled with meaningful access to treatment and support.
Progress Meets a Political Wall
Despite these wins, counselors and program administrators are now sounding the alarm. Federal proposals to cut health and drug program funding could reverse the momentum. In some states, naloxone distribution programs are already scaling back, and community organizations have been forced to lay off outreach workers⁵.
What makes these cuts especially troubling is the timing. After years of advocacy and systems building, we are finally seeing a downturn in overdose fatalities. Yet instead of reinforcing the structures that made this progress possible, public health infrastructure is again under threat.
The Equity Problem
While overall deaths are down, the benefits of this progress are not equally distributed. Data shows that overdose deaths among white Americans have declined significantly, but among Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic communities, the numbers have remained stubbornly high or declined only slightly⁶.
This disparity stems from systemic issues: unequal access to treatment, racialized policing, and insufficient culturally responsive care. Many BIPOC communities also face underinvestment in public health services—a gap that widened during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues in the SUD landscape.
In American Indian and Alaska Native communities, overdose rates remain the highest of any demographic group in the country⁷. Without intentional investment in equity-focused strategies, this “progress” risks becoming just another example of uneven recovery.
What This Means for Counselors
As professionals in the behavioral health field, we are more than clinicians. We are educators, advocates, and frontline observers. Here’s what we should be paying attention to in this moment:
1. Advocate for stable, long-term funding.
Temporary grant cycles and one-time settlements are not enough. We must speak up about the need for permanent public investment in harm reduction, recovery housing, workforce development, and integrated care systems.
2. Push for racial and health equity.
We can’t ignore the data: not all communities are benefiting from overdose reductions. Counselors can advocate for culturally competent care, bilingual services, and hiring practices that reflect the populations we serve.
3. Invest in workforce capacity.
A 2024 report from Mercer forecasts that the demand for behavioral health services will increase by 49 percent by 2033—but the workforce is only expected to grow by 11 percent⁸. We need better compensation, burnout protections, and training pipelines to meet the need.
4. Continue embracing harm reduction.
Naloxone, test strips, and overdose prevention centers have moved from controversial to essential. Counselors should feel empowered to integrate harm reduction approaches into care planning, outreach, and even clinical settings.
Final Thoughts
The recent decline in overdose deaths shows that evidence-based strategies—when funded and implemented—can work. But the road ahead is precarious. Cuts to funding, failure to address racial inequity, and the ongoing criminalization of drug use could undo this fragile progress.
Now more than ever, counselors must stand not only as healers but as system-shapers. The moment demands it—and lives depend on it.
References
Associated Press. (2025, June 10). US overdose deaths fell 27% last year, the largest one-year decline ever seen. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/1561a9f189255ad60c533462f10490a2
Gronewold, A. (2025, June 10). As opioid rates plummet, NY officials hope 2025 a turning point. Times Union. https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/opioid-rates-plummet-ny-officials-hope-2025-wins-20349345.php
Kite, S. (2025, June 11). Overdose deaths fall as harm reduction expands in Missouri and Kansas. Axios Kansas City. https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/06/11/overdose-deaths-decline-kansas-missouri
Reuters. (2025, May). US addiction programs face cutbacks despite overdose decline. Reuters Health News.
Mercer. (2024). Behavioral health workforce shortage projections through 2033. Mercer Health. https://www.mercer.com/insights/health/behavioral-health-provider-shortage-report