Drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County fell sharply last year, offering a rare sign of progress in a crisis that has devastated communities across the region. But health officials say the improvement has not reached everyone equally.

New county data show overdose deaths declined 22 percent in 2024 compared with 2023, driven largely by fewer fatalities involving fentanyl and methamphetamine, the two drugs responsible for the majority of overdose deaths in the county.

Public health leaders say the drop reflects expanded treatment programs, the widespread distribution of naloxone, and community outreach efforts aimed at reaching people most at risk. At the same time, the data reveal persistent racial disparities that continue to shape who survives the crisis and who does not.

“We have a lot to celebrate,” said Dr. Brian Hurley, medical director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control for the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health (DPH). “But this decline in overdose deaths is not experienced by every community in Los Angeles County equally.”

Black residents continue to experience the highest overdose death rates in the county, according to health officials. Latino residents account for the largest number of overdose deaths overall because they make up a large share of the county’s population.

“Black Los Angeles County residents continue to have the highest rate of overdose compared to white Los Angeles County residents, Latino Los Angeles County residents, and Asian Los Angeles County residents,” Hurley said.

The findings reflect national trends showing overdose deaths increasingly affecting communities of color and people living in lower-income neighborhoods, where access to healthcare, housing stability, and addiction treatment can be more limited.

Fentanyl remains the most dangerous driver of overdose deaths. The synthetic opioid is far more potent than heroin or prescription painkillers, and it frequently appears in counterfeit pills sold on the street or online. Methamphetamine continues to be another major contributor to overdose deaths in the county.

Even as fentanyl has reshaped the drug supply, public health officials say expanded harm reduction strategies are helping prevent fatalities.

One of the most important tools has been naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses by restoring breathing. Known widely by the brand name Narcan, the drug can be administered through a nasal spray and is now available over the counter.

Los Angeles County has distributed millions of naloxone doses through clinics, community organizations, housing programs, and outreach teams. Since 2019, officials say community members have reported more than 50,000 overdose reversals using the medication.

“This is really a story about all of L.A. becoming first responders,” Hurley said.

County leaders say expanding access to harm reduction tools has been central to reducing overdose deaths.

“Harm reduction services include things like naloxone distribution,” said Shoshanna Scholar, director of the Harm Reduction Division for the Los Angeles Department of Health Services. “It includes things like test strip distribution.”

These programs aim to connect with people who use drugs and help keep them alive long enough to access treatment and recovery services.

The overdose crisis is closely linked to the region’s homelessness emergency. People experiencing homelessness face significantly higher risks of overdose deaths because of unstable living conditions, untreated mental health challenges, and limited access to healthcare.

Community organizations working directly with unhoused residents have become a crucial part of the county’s response.

“We do this work every day, day and night,” said Kelvin Driscoll, director of the Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System (HOPICS). “When we say our teams are delivering lifesaving work, it’s not just hyperbole.”

At HOPICS, a nonprofit organization that provides outreach and behavioral health services across South Los Angeles, teams distribute naloxone daily while helping people connect to treatment, housing, and medical care.

Over the past year, HOPICS distributed 48,000 doses of naloxone, resulting in nearly 600 documented overdose reversals, according to the organization.

Drop-in centers run by outreach groups offer people experiencing homelessness a place to rest, access healthcare services, and receive referrals for addiction treatment and housing support. Officials say these spaces are critical for building trust with individuals who may have had little contact with traditional healthcare systems.

In neighborhoods most affected by overdose deaths, including Skid Row and MacArthur Park, specialized overdose response teams patrol the streets with naloxone and other lifesaving tools.

Aurora Morales, associate director of Community Initiatives, Homeless Health Care Los Angeles (HHCLA), oversees those teams. Many of the responders have personal experience with addiction or homelessness, which allows them to connect with people on the street in ways traditional healthcare systems often cannot.

Morales knows that experience firsthand. Years ago, she struggled with addiction and homelessness before eventually entering recovery and joining the outreach networks that once helped her.

“The people that were put in my path were people who compassionately and non-judgmentally were able to connect with me,” Morales said.

Today, her teams respond to overdoses, distribute naloxone kits, and train community members to recognize overdose symptoms and act quickly.

Despite the decline in deaths, health officials caution that the overdose crisis remains far from over. Fentanyl continues to dominate the drug supply, and counterfeit pills containing lethal doses remain widely available.

Education campaigns aimed at young people warn that even a single pill obtained outside a pharmacy can be deadly. Public health officials are also working with schools, faith organizations, and community groups to expand awareness and reduce stigma around addiction.

At the same time, experts say long-term progress will require addressing the deeper social conditions that shape health outcomes across Los Angeles County, including housing instability, poverty, and unequal access to healthcare.

“The numbers show that what we are doing is working,” Hurley said. “But until every community experiences that progress, our work is not finished.”