Arizona bucked the national trend
The national headline is genuinely good: the CDC provisional data released May 13 shows 69,973 predicted drug overdose deaths for 2025, down 13.9% from 81,313 in 2024 — the lowest total since October 2019. Oregon was down 35%. North Carolina down 34%. New York down 32%.
Arizona moved the other direction. +17.31%. Only New Mexico (+21.30%) fared worse.
The divergence matters because Arizona’s opioid burden was already among the nation’s worst before 2025. The strategy guiding Arizona’s $1.215 billion opioid settlement fund explicitly describes the state as a crisis epicenter: more than five Arizonans dying from opioid overdoses daily, youth overdose mortality at twice the national average. The 2025 data means that baseline is getting worse — at precisely the moment the settlement funds are supposed to begin meaningful deployment.
Experts note Arizona’s numbers may reflect lagging naloxone distribution relative to population, limited rural treatment infrastructure, and fentanyl supply dynamics that differ from states showing the steepest declines.
Why this matters for people in recovery
If you are in Arizona and seeking help, the treatment landscape is real but strained. AHCCCS covers the full spectrum of addiction treatment, and Maricopa County’s opioid settlement funds are actively expanding access. Find treatment resources in Arizona
Sources Cited
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trendssocial-culturalArizonaFentanylOpioids (general)Trends