Brian Mann

Smoking fentanyl and xylosine is still incredibly risky, but it's considered safer than using needles. Vadim says many people who use fentanyl are also taking smaller doses.

They say there are more public health services here on the street, and people routinely carry naloxone or Narcan to reverse fentanyl overdoses. All this has contributed to nearly 2,000 fewer deaths a year in Pennsylvania alone compared with the peak. Dr. Nora Volkov, who heads the U.S. government's National Institute on Drug Abuse, says she believes the U.S. as a whole has reached a turning point.

They say there are more public health services here on the street, and people routinely carry naloxone or Narcan to reverse fentanyl overdoses. All this has contributed to nearly 2,000 fewer deaths a year in Pennsylvania alone compared with the peak. Dr. Nora Volkov, who heads the U.S. government's National Institute on Drug Abuse, says she believes the U.S. as a whole has reached a turning point.

They say there are more public health services here on the street, and people routinely carry naloxone or Narcan to reverse fentanyl overdoses. All this has contributed to nearly 2,000 fewer deaths a year in Pennsylvania alone compared with the peak. Dr. Nora Volkov, who heads the U.S. government's National Institute on Drug Abuse, says she believes the U.S. as a whole has reached a turning point.

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.

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.