'Drug epidemics are often cyclical'

A man picks up syringes at a safe injection site in New York City.

A man picks up syringes at a safe injection site for drug addicts in New York City

(Image credit: Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

published 2 December 2024

'Not everyone is benefiting from drops in overdose deaths'

Maia Szalavitz at The New York Times

A drop in drug deaths "might reflect what epidemiologists call a depletion of susceptibles, a grim term that can describe the waning of an epidemic because the most vulnerable people have perished," says Maia Szalavitz. The U.S. "urgently needs to identify which factors beyond the tragedy of mass death are causing fatalities to fall." This "could not only help prevent rises in overdoses but may also explain why some groups continue to experience sharp increases in overdose deaths."

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Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.