CDC data shows decline in overdose deaths; mayors say local prevention efforts work
Mayors across the country helped drive a 26.9% drop in U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024, according to a national briefing held Friday morning — a remarkable reversal after years of increases.
During the 30-minute session, hosted by the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, public health leaders urged continued support for programs that prioritize community-level prevention.
Greta Massetti, PhD, MA, principal deputy director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), presented the latest data during the briefing. Massetti emphasized that mayors’ efforts to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression through programs like Move with the Mayor® help save lives. Primary prevention — actions to reduce risk factors for drug overdose — is one of four pillars of the National Overdose Prevention Strategy.
Since President Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in 2017, Congressional support has enabled the CDC to expand critical data systems and strengthen overdose prevention capacity across all states.
Data shows that nearly every state saw meaningful progress, with just two — Nevada and South Dakota — experiencing increases, highlighting the continued need for focused support.
Durham, North Carolina, Mayor Leonardo Williams, vice chair of the United States Conference of Mayors’ task force on substance use disorder, prevention, and recovery services, shared how his city is tackling the overdose crisis through a community-first approach. That strategy includes mobile treatment units and unarmed emergency response teams.
“We are making sure we’re meeting folks when and where they are, in the capacity in which they need us most,” Williams said.
The strategy also includes a strong focus on prevention through movement and connection.
Williams emphasized that physical inactivity and isolation can create conditions where substance use takes root.
“Move with the Mayor® offers a powerful way to shift that trajectory by promoting healthier, more connected lifestyles,” he said. “Thank you to all the mayors for taking the lead. An active body is a healthy body, and we need to use our momentum to keep us going. Let’s not let this decrease (in overdose deaths) make us complacent. This is something that’s going in the right direction. So, I want to make sure we use that to our advantage.”
In response to the progress highlighted during the briefing, mayors will advocate for continued funding for the NCIPC. They will also support the overdose prevention strategy prioritized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to sustain the momentum of local, community-led prevention efforts.
The new CDC report includes a state-by-state map showing that 48 states saw declines in overdose deaths, with some seeing reductions above 40%.
“This sharp drop in overdose deaths is no coincidence — it’s the result of an effective National Overdose Prevention Strategy,” said John M. Clymer, executive director of the National Forum.
Noting that overdose deaths remain high, he added, “Now is the time to accelerate that momentum, not retreat from it.”
“Move with the Mayor® has become a national blueprint for what local leadership can achieve,” Clymer said.
About Move with the Mayor®
Mayors use Move with the Mayor®(MWTM), an initiative of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, to encourage active, healthy living while strengthening individual and community resilience. For 11 years and counting, mayors have been using MWTM messaging; program, policy, and infrastructure recommendations; and other tools to empower and protect community members from health threats and improve cardiovascular health and mental health for all. To learn more, visit natforum.org/mwtm.
Media Contact:
Amanda Thomas
amanda.thomas.ic@nationalforum.org
770-609-0674
