Life expectancy in the United States has reached its highest point since the COVID-19 pandemic, climbing to 78.4 years in 2023, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Bloomberg reports.
This represents a significant increase from 77.5 years in 2022, driven primarily by a notable decrease in drug overdose deaths.
The NCHS report, published Thursday, reveals a 6% overall decline in the US death rate in 2023. A separate report indicates a 4% decrease in overdose death rates during the same period. Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher specializing in overdose trends, described this as “one of the largest single-year decreases in overdose deaths we’ve seen since the modern overdose crisis in the 1990s.”He expressed cautious optimism that this signifies a turning point in the nation’s ongoing opioid crisis.
Several factors are believed to have contributed to this positive trend. These include a potential decrease in fentanyl potency, increased use of fentanyl test strips, wider access to naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication), and heightened public awareness campaigns. Increased funding for prevention and treatment, fueled in part by opioid litigation settlements, is also considered a significant factor.
Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University, noted that while this is encouraging, a single year’s data doesn’t guarantee a sustained trend. He emphasized the need for continued improvement, citing the US’s historically poor health outcomes compared to other developed nations.
While the overall decline in overdose deaths is positive, disparities remain. The decrease was primarily observed among white populations, while rates remained stagnant or increased for other racial and ethnic groups. Marshall highlighted the need for improved access to treatment and support services to ensure equitable reductions across all communities.
The report also details changes in other leading causes of death. Heart disease and cancer remained the top two causes in 2023, while COVID-19 fell to tenth place, down from fourth in 2022. Heroin-related overdose deaths saw a 33% decrease, while those involving cocaine and psychostimulants like methamphetamine saw slight increases.
