Los Angeles County Records 2,298 Overdose Deaths in 2025 as Fentanyl Fatalities Fall 40%
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 25
Los Angeles County Records 2,298 Overdose Deaths in 2025 as Fentanyl Fatalities Fall 40%
3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 25
Summary
2,298 accidental overdose and poisoning deaths were recorded in Los Angeles County in 2025, down 6% from 2,438 in 2024 and marking a third straight annual decline.
Public health officials tied the drop to sustained prevention and harm-reduction spending, including naloxone distribution, outreach workers linking people to treatment, and county campaigns such as Fentanyl Frontline.
From the 2022 peak of 3,220 deaths, county overdose fatalities have fallen nearly 30%; fentanyl-related deaths dropped 40% and methamphetamine-related deaths 25% over that period.
The decline was uneven: adults 65 and older saw overdose deaths rise 14%, adults 40 to 64 still made up 53% of deaths, and Black residents and poorer communities continued to face the highest rates.
Nationwide overdose deaths have also been falling since mid-2023, but officials warned future progress could be threatened by federal budget, staffing and grant cuts even as deaths remain above pre-pandemic levels.