FBI Director:

• 2023: Approximately 72,776 fentanyl-related deaths (about 69% of all U.S. overdose deaths)
• 2024: Approximately 48,422 deaths — a substantial drop from the prior year
• Fentanyl remains the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18–45.

The demographic impact has also been severe. In 2023, Black Americans experienced the highest fentanyl death rate at 35.0 per 100,000 people, followed by American Indian and Alaska Native populations at 28.5 per 100,000.

Federal officials attribute part of the recent decline to intensified interdiction efforts, maritime seizures, and cross-border enforcement coordination.