Drug overdose deaths are down in L.A. County in 2025. Here's why

For the 3rd twelvemonth successful a row, accidental drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths person dropped successful Los Angeles County, a diminution officials property to ongoing investments successful prevention and harm simplification resources countywide.

There were 2,298 accidental cause overdose and poisoning deaths successful 2025, down 6%, a comparatively tiny driblet from 2,438 the anterior twelvemonth but an wide important simplification from the all-time precocious of 3,220 deaths countywide successful 2022, according to a caller study from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Drug overdoses proceed to beryllium the starring origin of accidental deaths countywide — surpassing the deaths owed to conveyance crashes and firearms successful 2017 combined — with methamphetamine and fentanyl astir often progressive successful the overdoses.

The occupation reached a historical precocious successful 2022 erstwhile fentanyl surpassed methamphetamine arsenic the astir communal cause listed arsenic a origin of overdose deaths. At the time, the fig of overdoses successful wide had accrued crossed the board.

However, these accidental deaths person been connected a downward trend, with a astir 30% wide alteration successful drug-related overdoses from 2022 to 2025. Fentanyl-related deaths dropped by 40% and methamphetamine-related deaths declined by 25% successful that period.

Officials said successful the study that the numbers are much humble compared with 2024, erstwhile accidental overdose deaths plunged wide by 22%, which they said “demonstrates sustained advancement successful the County’s efforts to code the overdose crisis.”

“Three consecutive years of less overdose deaths successful LA County is impervious that sustained investments successful prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and betterment services saves lives,” Barbara Ferrer, manager of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said successful a statement.

Ferrer credited the continued simplification to outreach workers and assemblage partners who “are moving each time to link radical to treatment, administer lifesaving naloxone and conscionable radical wherever they are without judgment.”

The section continues to put successful a coordinated spectrum of community-based overdose prevention efforts that see the Fentanyl Frontline — a multimedia run focused connected the wide organisation of naloxone — and ByLAforLA.org, a community-powered level that connects residents to lifesaving services with an purpose to trim stigma.

The wellness section study besides found:

• Los Angeles County overdose deaths declined crossed astir property groups successful 2025 but deaths among adults 65 and older accrued by 14%.
• Although older adults accounted for lone 11% of each overdose deaths, this summation contrasts with the broader downward inclination observed crossed different property groups, according to the report.
• Those aged 40 to 64 remained the astir affected group, accounting for 53% of overdose deaths past year.
• Communities with 30% of residents surviving beneath the national poorness level had a higher complaint of cause overdose deaths than areas with little than 10% of families surviving beneath the national poorness level.
• By race, Black residents continued to acquisition the highest overdose decease rates successful 2025.
• By gender, a persistent disparity remains, with men accounting for astir overdose deaths, astir 1,800 compared with much than 500 deaths among women.

Nationwide, opioid overdose deaths person been connected the diminution since mid-2023, driven mostly by decreases successful fentanyl-related deaths, but the numbers stay supra pre-pandemic levels, according to a caller study by KFF, a nationalist wellness argumentation organization.

KFF said aggregate argumentation actions person contributed to the decline, including efforts to grow entree to attraction arsenic good arsenic overdose-reversal drugs and nationalist consciousness campaigns. At the national level, determination person been immoderate efforts to mitigate the situation including improving fentanyl detection astatine ports and borders.

“Despite progress, a scope of much caller national argumentation actions whitethorn impact aboriginal trends, including national fund cuts, national staffing reductions, and cuts to national grants that enactment authorities and section programs; reduced Medicaid and Marketplace coverage; and a displacement toward a much enforcement-focused approach, including the designation of illicit fentanyl arsenic a ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction,’” according to the report.

Los Angeles County residents tin entree assistance for substance-use services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling (800) 854-7771, prime Option 2 aft the connection prompt.