Brian Mann

While overall drug deaths are down 24 percent, Volkov says deaths linked specifically to fentanyl are dropping even faster, down more than 30 percent. If that trend holds, the U.S. could soon return to levels not seen since 2016 when fentanyl hit.

While overall drug deaths are down 24 percent, Volkov says deaths linked specifically to fentanyl are dropping even faster, down more than 30 percent. If that trend holds, the U.S. could soon return to levels not seen since 2016 when fentanyl hit.

Volkov and Dasgupta also agree. This shift appears to be long-term and sustainable. Dasgupta's deep dive into CDC records found nearly half the states actually saw recoveries beginning much earlier than once understood, with fatal overdoses peaking back in 2021 and 2022, then beginning a steady decline.

Volkov and Dasgupta also agree. This shift appears to be long-term and sustainable. Dasgupta's deep dive into CDC records found nearly half the states actually saw recoveries beginning much earlier than once understood, with fatal overdoses peaking back in 2021 and 2022, then beginning a steady decline.

Volkov and Dasgupta also agree. This shift appears to be long-term and sustainable. Dasgupta's deep dive into CDC records found nearly half the states actually saw recoveries beginning much earlier than once understood, with fatal overdoses peaking back in 2021 and 2022, then beginning a steady decline.

The result nationally is roughly 25,000 fewer drug deaths every year. But does Gupta and other addiction experts say this isn't a time to declare victory? They describe these improvements more as a crucial first step, meaning less death, but also a lot more people surviving with severe addiction and chronic illness needing help. Dr. Ben Cotillaro treats addiction patients here in Kensington.

The result nationally is roughly 25,000 fewer drug deaths every year. But does Gupta and other addiction experts say this isn't a time to declare victory? They describe these improvements more as a crucial first step, meaning less death, but also a lot more people surviving with severe addiction and chronic illness needing help. Dr. Ben Cotillaro treats addiction patients here in Kensington.

The result nationally is roughly 25,000 fewer drug deaths every year. But does Gupta and other addiction experts say this isn't a time to declare victory? They describe these improvements more as a crucial first step, meaning less death, but also a lot more people surviving with severe addiction and chronic illness needing help. Dr. Ben Cotillaro treats addiction patients here in Kensington.

That's a tall order. The distance from where the U.S. is now in places like Kensington to that kind of public health response feels vast. On a late winter morning, Kaylee McLeod with Philadelphia's Overdose Response Unit sets off on foot across Kensington. She bends to check on a man huddled and unresponsive.

That's a tall order. The distance from where the U.S. is now in places like Kensington to that kind of public health response feels vast. On a late winter morning, Kaylee McLeod with Philadelphia's Overdose Response Unit sets off on foot across Kensington. She bends to check on a man huddled and unresponsive.

That's a tall order. The distance from where the U.S. is now in places like Kensington to that kind of public health response feels vast. On a late winter morning, Kaylee McLeod with Philadelphia's Overdose Response Unit sets off on foot across Kensington. She bends to check on a man huddled and unresponsive.

The complicated reality is that more people surviving fentanyl overdoses will mean more people needing a whole network of care.

The complicated reality is that more people surviving fentanyl overdoses will mean more people needing a whole network of care.

The complicated reality is that more people surviving fentanyl overdoses will mean more people needing a whole network of care.

A few blocks down the street, I meet Tracy Horvath, who says she's lived in Kensington most of her life, much of that time using fentanyl.

A few blocks down the street, I meet Tracy Horvath, who says she's lived in Kensington most of her life, much of that time using fentanyl.

A few blocks down the street, I meet Tracy Horvath, who says she's lived in Kensington most of her life, much of that time using fentanyl.

She looks weary and cold, but she is one of the survivors. Horvath, too, says fentanyl might have killed her if Narcan weren't so widely available.

She looks weary and cold, but she is one of the survivors. Horvath, too, says fentanyl might have killed her if Narcan weren't so widely available.

She looks weary and cold, but she is one of the survivors. Horvath, too, says fentanyl might have killed her if Narcan weren't so widely available.