Vox

Preliminary CDC data on the 12-month period ending in June showed that overdoses dropped about 15 percentage points from the previous period. There were still roughly 94,000 overdose deaths, signaling that the public health crisis is far from over, though a positive change could be on the horizon.

Explanation 1: The drug supply is changing

Explanation 2: Drugs are being used more safely

Explanation 3: The crisis has already taken the most vulnerable lives