Drug overdose deaths continue to decline in Los Angeles County and across the country, thanks to stronger investments in prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. However, despite this progress, the highest rates persist in Black and Latino low-income communities.
Los Angeles has struggled with drug overdoses for years, but recent data suggest improvement. According to the county public health department, in 2024, drug-related deaths declined 22 percent compared to previous years.
“We have reason to celebrate as overdoses are dropping, especially with declining fentanyl and meth deaths—these drugs cause most overdoses,” said Brian Hurley, addiction physician and medical director of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control for LA County Public Health, during an American Community Media ACoM briefing.
Fentanyl-related deaths fell 37 percent, and meth-related deaths dropped 20 percent.
Drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths dropped from 3,137 deaths in 2023 to 2,438 deaths in 2024, the lowest number recorded since 2019.