Podcast: Is A Heroin Resurgence Cutting Overdose Deaths?

By Cameron English and ChuckDinerstein — Apr 10, 2025

A resurgence of heroin in the black market might be contributing to a significant drop in fentanyl-related overdose deaths, with provisional CDC data showing a 24% decline in overall U.S. overdose deaths by September 2024. Could this shift, alongside harm reduction efforts like increased naloxone distribution, be reducing fatalities? Let's take a look.

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Join Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein on Episode 109 of the Science Dispatch podcast as they discuss:

How Many Fewer Fentanyl-Related OD Deaths Are Due to a Resurgence of Heroin?

After being essentially replaced by fentanyl during the darkest days of the Covid pandemic, heroin is re-emerging as an option for consumers of blackmarket drugs. Could this have something to do with the recent downturn in drug overdose fatalities?

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Cameron English

Director of Bioscience

Cameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project.