The Commonwealth Fund released an issue brief on factors that have contributed to the recent decrease in overdose deaths in the U.S. and other high-income countries.

The main point: A combination of policies, changing drug supply, and behavioral changes among people who use drugs may have contributed to reduced overdose deaths.

The details:

Several states have offered greater access to naloxone and fentanyl test strips.
Medicaid expansion has provided coverage and access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to a wider population.
Several countries have implemented programs designed to reduce drug-related deaths among people recently released from prison.
Efforts to improve data collection and coordination, including monitoring the drug supply at the local level, have supported overdose-reduction efforts.

Recommendations: The brief includes recommendations to sustain and encourage declines in overdose deaths in the U.S., including:

Sustained funding for existing programs (i.e., cuts to Medicaid and harm reduction resources could lead to more overdose deaths)
Leveraging new financing models (e.g., value-based payment for opioid use disorder treatment)
Targeting policies for specific communities (e.g., community care models like community-based Native and Tribal organizations)
International coordination (e.g., data and response coordination, uniform mortality definitions, shared early-warning systems)