Friend,

Every overdose death is a policy failure and preventable tragedy. In 2022, there were 107,941 overdose deaths. These deaths are not just numbers; they are lives. They are our loved ones: our families, our friends, our neighbors. This Overdose Awareness Day, let's talk about what’s causing the overdose crisis and how we can work together to save lives.  

The unregulated and unpredictable drug supply has driven increases in overdose deaths. Drug criminalization has not stopped this. In fact, overdose deaths have increased. And illicit drugs are now more potent, available, and cheaper than ever. What has criminalization led to? 

• As heroin overdoses began to rise in 2010, crackdowns on the drug increased. As heroin became harder to find, fentanyl – a synthetic opioid – began to appear.  
• All fentanyl-related substances have been criminalized since 2018. But overdose deaths have still risen dramatically.  
• Drug and alcohol overdose deaths have more than doubled in jails and prisons.  
• People are 27 times more likely to die from overdose within two weeks of release from incarceration compared to the general population.  
• Fear of arrest can deter people from asking for help during an overdose emergency. 

Policies that criminalize as a response to this crisis are disproven and ineffective. Yet, elected officials across the country continue to call for more of the same. Drug offenses remain a leading cause of arrest across the nation. All while barriers to proven interventions remain: 

• Fear of federal interference is a barrier for many places that want to establish overdose prevention centers. 
• Harm reduction programs are under attack across the nation. State and federal funding available to community-based harm reduction providers is scarce. 
• Medications for opioid use disorder reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while cutting overdose risk in half. But they are difficult to access due to strict regulations and stigma. 

It’s past time for our elected officials to focus on investing in health-based solutions to the overdose crisis. At the Drug Policy Alliance, we’re committed to reducing overdose deaths and saving lives. Here’s what we know can help:  

• Overdose prevention centers. These facilities are designed to reduce the potential risks of drug use, including overdose and unwanted public use. They also connect people with addiction services and social supports, including treatment. 
• Evidence-based treatment. There are a variety of treatment options, including psychosocial treatment, medications for opioid use disorder such as methadone and buprenorphine, and contingency management. 
• Harm reduction. Interventions include drug checking (like fentanyl and xylazine test strips), naloxone (a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose), drug education, and syringe exchange services that prevent people from contracting infectious diseases. 
• Safer supply. Drug prohibition has created an unregulated drug supply that is unpredictable. Offering a safe supply instead would allow people to know exactly what’s in their drugs and its potency. 
• Policies that address racial and ethnic disparities. While drug overdose deaths affect all communities across the U.S, notable racial and ethnic disparities exist. Recognizing these can help us develop effective, lifesaving policy solutions. Our new fact sheets describe overdose death trends and policy solutions for Black, Latinx, and Native American communities. 

Together, we can save lives.