Mental Health, Prevention, and the Latest Overdose Data

[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

New Free Mind tools help parents talk with teens.

Mental Health Matters in Overdose Prevention

Mental Health Matters: Prevention Starts with Connection This Mental Health Month, we’re highlighting the role of connection, compassion, and open conversations in prevention. May is Mental Health Month — an important time for organizations and individuals across the country to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and advocate for better access to mental health care. Mental health is critical to overall health and well-being, and it is deeply connected to overdose prevention. Mental health conditions can affect anyone. Recognizing the signs, encouraging open dialogue, and showing compassion can help support people’s well-being and get them connected to care. Mental Health America’s theme for this year, More Good Days, Together, encourages us to reflect on what a “good” day looks like — for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

Real Talk: Helping Parents Navigate Tough Conversations  Resources to help parents and caregivers talk with teens about mental health and substance use  Mental Health Month is an important time to encourage parents and caregivers to talk with their teens about mental health and substance use. The Free Mind campaign offers a new interactive learning experience called Real Talk designed to help parents and caregivers practice these conversations through relatable, real-life scenarios. As parents and caregivers work through each scenario, they can practice responding to potential teen reactions, build confidence, and receive feedback along the way.

Parents and caregivers can also use the Facts & Feels interactive card deck to guide open, supportive conversations with teens about mental health and substance use.

Drug Overdose Data & Trends

2025 Provisional Data: Progress Continues, but Declines Are Slowing Predicted overdose deaths declined in 2025, but recent trends show the pace of progress may be leveling.

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has released provisional 2025 mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). The latest provisional data show 69,973 predicted overdose deaths for the 12-month period ending in December 2025 — about a 14% decrease compared with the same period ending in December 2024. Overall Trends The continued decline is encouraging. However, the steep decline seen from late 2023 into 2024 appears to be slowing. Monthly provisional data suggest overdose deaths were relatively stable from September 2024 through July 2025, decreased in August and September 2025, and then leveled in October 2025.

Progress Is Uneven Across the Country National declines are promising, but some areas are seeing different trends. Most states saw decreases in predicted overdose deaths when comparing full-year 2025 with full-year 2024. However, several states — particularly in the Southwest and West — experienced increases during late 2024 and much of 2025. Looking Ahead While there is still important work ahead, these meaningful declines show that prevention, treatment, and recovery support services efforts are making a difference and saving lives. Note: Provisional data are preliminary, subject to change, and should be interpreted with caution.

New Dashboard Tracks Emerging Drug Use Trends Clinical urine drug test data offer faster insight into fentanyl and polysubstance use.

	CDC recently launched the Clinical Drug Test Dashboard, a new interactive tool provides actionable data and timely insights into trends from fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine — substances that continue to be primary drivers of overdose deaths. The dashboard uses results from clinical urine drug tests ordered as part of routine care for adults diagnosed with substance use disorders.

While these data do not represent drug use rates in the U.S. population, the large volume of test results can help identify national and regional changes in drug use and co-use more quickly than many traditional data sources. A Key Findings page also summarizes insights from the most recent data. Drug tests were conducted by Millennium Health, an accredited laboratory that supports clinicians in monitoring prescription medications, detecting illegal drug use, and assessing treatment effectiveness.

Webinar: Learn How to Use the Dashboard Join CDC for a walkthrough of the new tool and key findings. Register for our webinar on Thursday, June 11 at 1:00 p.m. EDT to walk through the dashboard, hear key findings, and get your questions answered. A recording will be posted online following the webinar.

Modeling Study Shows Prevention and Treatment Remain Key New findings highlight the value of ongoing investment in overdose prevention, naloxone response, and opioid use disorder treatment. A new CDC modeling study underscores the ongoing impact of the overdose crisis and the importance of sustained prevention efforts. Researchers examined a hypothetical scenario in which fatal overdose risk among people with opioid use disorder (OUD) increased 5% annually from 2025 through 2028. In that scenario, fatal overdoses were estimated to increase by 17%, corresponding to a $233 billion increase in overdose-related costs. The study also highlights two evidence-based strategies that could help offset short-term increases in fatal opioid overdoses: increasing bystander recognition of overdose and naloxone administration and increasing initiation of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) among people with OUD. These findings reinforce the importance of continued investment in prevention, treatment access, and overdose response efforts to build on recent declines in opioid overdose deaths.

Prevention in Action

OD2A Success Stories from Louisiana & Puerto Rico New field stories show how data and care connections can support lifesaving prevention. Health departments that receive Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) funding continue to report many significant achievements in overdose prevention. CDC's latest stories highlight efforts in Louisiana and Puerto Rico to improve linkage to care for substance use disorder treatment.

A Bridge to Treatment in Louisiana Emergency Departments | Overdose Prevention | CDC. In Louisiana, select hospitals have implemented Bridge programs that provide 24/7 access to lifesaving treatment and navigation for people with opioid use disorder in emergency departments. Timely data is of the ESSENCE in Puerto Rico | Overdose Prevention | CDC. Puerto Rico’s strengthened data systems are helping public health partners identify overdose event alerts more quickly and connect people to treatment and support services faster.

Announcements & Funding Opportunities

CARA Local Drug Crisis Grants Now Open Funding supports community coalitions working to prevent youth substance use. Applications are now open for the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Community-Based Coalition Enhancement Grants to Address Local Drug Crises, also known as CARA Local Drug Crisis Grants program. This funding opportunity is open to current or former Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant recipients to prevent and reduce the use of opioids or methamphetamines and the misuse of prescription medications among youth ages 12-18.  As a supplemental award, CARA builds on existing DFC infrastructure, allowing coalitions to expand or tailor their current strategies using local data and community input. Coalitions are expected to implement evidence-based, population-focused prevention strategies that prevent initiation and reduce progression of substance use disorders among at-risk youth.

	Explore the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) here: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361329 The submission deadline is 11:59 PM ET on June 8, 2026.

Visit us at: www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention

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