Stimulants Offset Opioid Decline

National overdose deaths fell slightly in 2023 because deaths involving synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) declined, but deaths involving cocaine and psychostimulants continued to rise, muting the overall improvement. The trend means the drug‑poisoning epidemic is shifting composition rather than ending. — If stimulants keep rising while opioid deaths fall, policy and treatment priorities must broaden beyond fentanyl to include stimulant‑focused prevention, testing, and treatment strategies.