As drug deaths hit five-year low, Trump continues to cite fentanyl as major threat

Drug deaths in the U.S. have plunged dramatically and steadily since the summer of 2023, according to the latest preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Trump used fentanyl to justify tariffs, but the crisis was already easing

The White House says fentanyl smuggled to the U.S. justifies tariffs against Canada, China and Mexico. But fentanyl deaths and smuggling have been dropping fast — and Canada plays almost no role.

Figures released this month by CDC show fatal overdoses falling to 77,648 in the 12-month period ending in March of this year. That’s the lowest tally of provisional predicted deaths from fentanyl and other street drugs since at least March 2020.

Despite the prolonged decline in overdose deaths, dating back to the middle of the Bide