Overdose Deaths Decline, Fentanyl Threat Looms

OMAHA, Neb.  – Tis’ the season for holiday travel and family gatherings and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division is encouraging communities across the Midwest to make the most of this time together by continuing conversations on the consequences of drug experimentation and dangers of fentanyl.

For the first time since 2018, the United States has seen a decrease in drug overdose deaths and poisonings, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noting a 14.5 percent decrease in deaths between June 2023 and June 2024. More than 107,000 people lost their lives to a drug overdose in 2023, with nearly 70 percent of those deaths attributed to opioids such as fentanyl.

“While we are grateful to see a decline in the number of lives lost, we know that this holiday season, there are more than 107,000 families missing their loved one because of the tragic consequences brought about by fentanyl,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “Engage with your family and friends on a conversation about the dangers of fake pills and the risk of experimentation. Let’s help ensure that next year’s holiday gathering brings everyone together again safe and sound.”

The latest DEA laboratory testing, announced earlier this fall, indicates that 5 out of 10 pills tested contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. This is down from 7 out of 10 pills in 2023 and 6 out of 10 pills in 2022. Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. For perspective, one gram of fentanyl, equivalent in size to a sugar packet, has the potential to kill up to 500 people.

For more information on fentanyl and other drugs currently seen across the Midwest, visit dea.gov or GetSmartAbout Drugs.gov.