The Fourth Wave Breaks — and Tells Us Exactly Who Was Left Behind

U.S. overdose deaths fell 24.4% in a single year. The data on who benefited — and who did not — is the most consequential thing published in addiction science this month.

A new peer-reviewed study in Addiction maps the 24.4% decline in U.S. overdose deaths in 2024 by race, ethnicity, and substance — revealing a historic drop driven by falling fentanyl deaths, persistent racial gaps, and a new crisis forming around stimulants and xylazine.