A surprising, but encouraging turn takes place in the United States as drug overdose deaths show a dramatic decline. This is based on the new provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that showed that these cases have plummeted by nearly 30% in 2024 as compared to in 2023.

The National Center for Health Statistics also estimated a 27% drop from 110,037 deaths in 2023 to 80,391 in 2024. This has marked the lowest total since 2019.

This significant drop, while still based on the provisional data that could differ from the final count does offer a hopeful sign in the long battle against an epidemic that has claimed as many as more than 1 million lives since 1999. This also remains to be the leading cause of deaths for Americans aged 18 to 44.

Efforts And Strategies

Health experts and CDC officials have attributed this decline to years of targeted federal investment and enhanced data systems. In fact, President Donald Trump also declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in 2017. Furthermore, the Congress also funded expanded CDC programs that now help states to collect real-time overdose data.

In fact, recently, the US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr also opened up about his own battle with drug addiction and his journey to recovery.

“These investments have empowered us to rapidly collect, analyze, and share actionable data,” the CDC said in a statement. “Since late 2023, overdose deaths have steadily declined each month — a strong sign that public health interventions are making a difference.”

Where Does The Most Decline Account For?

Much of the overall decrease is driven by fewer deaths from fentanyl and other opioids.

As per the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic, based on prescription. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic. It is also known as China Girl, China Town, Murder 8, Poison and Tango & Cash as its street name.

It is consumed by snorting, sniffing, smoking, orally by a pill or tablet, or spiked onto blotter paper and patches.

The DEA notes that overdose can cause stupor, changes in pupil size, clammy skin, cyanosis, coma, and respiratory failure leading to death.

Fentanyl-related deaths fell by nearly 37%, from 76,282 in 2023 to 48,422 in 2024. Deaths involving any type of opioid also dropped significantly — down from 83,140 to 54,743.

Other drugs showed similar trends. Cocaine overdose deaths decreased from an estimated 30,833 to 22,174. Psychostimulant-related deaths, including those from methamphetamine, declined by 20%, from 37,096 to 29,456.

Data From States

Nearly all states showed progress. States such as Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia posted the most dramatic single-year declines each over 35%.

Only two states bucked the trend. Nevada saw a 3.5% rise in overdose deaths, while South Dakota reported a 2.3% increase.

Experts point to a variety of factors. Dr. Stephen Taylor, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, credits greater access to addiction treatment services and wider availability of naloxone, a drug that reverses overdoses.

“I think the most important issue has been the expanded access to care,” Taylor said. However, he warns that proposed cuts — such as Trump’s suggested $1 billion reduction in funding to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — could threaten the progress made.

Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, believes fewer new people becoming addicted may also play a key role. “Epidemics come to an end because the number of new people entering the drug scene drops below the number exiting — whether through recovery, treatment, or sadly, death,” he said to US News.

A 61-year-old man in New York died after being pulled into an MRI machine by the heavy weight-training metal chain around his neck. It is still not clear if he had entered the scanning room to check on a relative or for his own scan when the powerful magnetic force dragged him toward the machine. The incident took place at Nassau Open MRI in Long Island while a scan was underway, according to NBC New York. Despite efforts to save him, he suffered a medical emergency and died the next day in hospital.

Here is why that happened and what everyone needs to know about MRI safety, especially when it comes to metal.

The magnetic pull

MRI machines run on ultra‑strong magnetic fields that are always on. They do not get switched off when no one is using them. Even the tiniest metal item, say, a coin, a belt buckle, or a smear of glittery eyeliner, can turn into a flying hazard. Hospitals train staff relentlessly to treat these rooms like a high-voltage zone.

The machine’s pull is so strong it can lift heavy objects and sling them across the room. There are reports of chains turning into projectiles and oxygen tanks being ripped from hands.

What went wrong this time

The man, reportedly, was not the patient. He was accompanying someone who was. But when he heard a scream from inside the scan room, he rushed in wearing a large metal chain. Despite staff shouting at him to stop, he entered the magnet zone.

Within seconds, the necklace was yanked toward the machine’s core. He was dragged with it and suffered serious trauma. Officially, it is being called a “medical episode”, but doctors suspect things like strangulation or spinal injuries. He died the following day in hospital.

Why MRI safety rules are not optional

When a hospital tells you to remove all metal, including rings, watches, piercings, underwired bras, belts or coins, they mean it. All of it. And it is not just about what you can see. Things inside your body, like surgical implants, pacemakers, pins, plates, cochlear devices, and even tattoos with metallic ink, matter too. These are not suggestions. They are hard rules, born from experience. It only takes one forgotten item to trigger disaster.

What not to wear or carry into an MRI room

• Necklaces, earrings, body jewellery
• Hairpins, clips, even mascara or eyeliner with shimmer
• Metal fasteners or zips in clothes
• Phones, keys, coins, wallets
• Hearing aids, removable dental gear
• Any implanted device or medical hardware
• Even makeup can be risky. Some brands use metallic particles for shine, which the scanner does not take kindly to.

Before an MRI, staff will ask you questions: “Any implants?” “Any metal in your body?” “Do you wear a hearing aid?” It might seem repetitive, but there is a reason behind it.

Patients who hide piercings, forget body modifications, or downplay surgical histories are not just risking their scan; they are risking their life. The machine’s magnetic field can interfere with implants, pull on metal fragments, or heat up tattoo ink.

Before you go near the scanner, make sure to:

• Strip off all metal
• Leave electronics outside
• Be upfront about medical history
• Ask questions if unsure
• And if you are not the patient, stay behind the line
• Even something as small as walking into the room at the wrong moment can have consequences.

Bolivia is in the middle of a public health emergency. Measles—once thought to be close to eradication in many parts of the world—has returned, with 60 confirmed cases sparking alarm across the country. In response, India dispatched 300,000 doses of the combined Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccine, providing a much-needed boost to Bolivia's immunization drive.

This timely shipment comes as the South American country scrambles to contain the outbreak. The Bolivian government has declared a National Health Emergency, activated emergency protocols, and called on local governments and global partners to ramp up vaccination efforts.

Measles is often underestimated, especially in countries where immunization coverage is high. But here’s the reality: measles is one of the most contagious viruses known to humans. It can cause severe complications—pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death—especially in children under five or those with malnutrition.

Bolivia's Health Minister Maria Renee Castro made it clear: the outbreak could spiral if parents don’t act. “It is essential that parents get their children vaccinated,” she said. Though the country has half a million doses in stock, coverage is falling short. And that’s the bigger issue.

What Triggered The Measles Outbreak In Bolivia?

The current crisis didn’t appear overnight. Like many countries, Bolivia experienced disruptions in routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Combined with misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and uneven access to healthcare in remote areas, immunization rates dropped to dangerously low levels.

This created fertile ground for the measles virus to resurface. Unlike other diseases that require direct contact, measles is airborne and can linger in the air for hours. Just one infected person can spread it to up to 18 others in an unvaccinated population.

India’s shipment of vaccines is part of a larger diplomatic and public health strategy. Known as the pharmacy of the Global South, India has been supplying vaccines and essential medicines to dozens of countries for decades. During the COVID-19 crisis, its Vaccine Maitri initiative helped over 90 nations.

In Bolivia’s case, the consignment not only supports outbreak response—it also reflects India’s growing role as a global health partner. By responding quickly and decisively, India is showing that vaccine diplomacy can fill the void where traditional global mechanisms may be slower to act.

Bolivia’s response plan now hinges on mass immunization campaigns—especially for children under five. President Luis Arce Catacora urged citizens to fully cooperate with health authorities. “Our duty is clear: to protect our children and the population from a threat that has already raised health alerts across the continent,” he said.

These campaigns will be coordinated across local and regional levels, supported by international organizations and bilateral partners like India. The goal is twofold: contain the outbreak quickly and restore public trust in routine immunizations.

What’s happening in Bolivia is a warning to the rest of the world. The measles virus doesn’t respect borders, and as global travel resumes, so does the risk of transmission. According to the World Health Organization, measles cases and deaths globally rose by 43% in 2022 alone. If global immunization coverage falls below 95%—especially for the two-dose measles vaccine—outbreaks are inevitable.

From Vaccine Access to Outbreak Prevention: The Missing Link

Here’s what this crisis teaches us: access to vaccines alone isn't enough. Countries need resilient health systems that can deliver these vaccines consistently, even in remote areas and during disruptions like a pandemic or natural disaster.

What this really means is that vaccine availability, while crucial, must be paired with last-mile delivery, consistent public messaging, and community trust. Otherwise, even the best stockpile can’t stop a virus that spreads faster than the news of its arrival.

The resurgence of measles in Bolivia isn’t just a regional emergency—it’s a global red flag. If countries let their guard down, diseases that were nearly eliminated will come roaring back. India’s support to Bolivia is a timely reminder that in public health, preparedness is not a choice, it’s a necessity.

Measles is preventable. The vaccine works. The challenge is ensuring it's not just produced and delivered—but also accepted, administered, and trusted. That’s the path to not just containing outbreaks—but ending them for good.

Just as British summer hits full swing, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has dropped a warning: slushies may not be so child-friendly after all. In an urgent new advisory, the FSA has warned parents to steer clear of giving slush ice drinks to children under seven, especially those containing a chemical called glycerol. And for kids between seven and ten? Keep it to a strict 350 ml a day.

What’s So Dangerous About a Slushie?

Slushies may seem like they beat the heat, but beneath that colour lies a syrupy science experiment. Most commercial slush drinks get their signature texture from glycerol, a compound that keeps ice from freezing into one giant block and gives slushies their semi-liquid, chewable charm. The trouble is, glycerol is harmful when consumed in large quantities, especially by small bodies.

According to the FSA, excessive intake of glycerol in a short span can cause mild symptoms like nausea, headaches and vomiting. But in more severe cases, children can suffer from dangerously low blood sugar, go into shock, or even lose consciousness.

The Risks Are Real and Rising

This warning did not come out of nowhere. The FSA has seen a surge in reports of children collapsing after drinking slushies. In many of these cases, the affected kids had consumed slush drinks in large amounts over a short period.

Summer’s New Parenting Rule

The FSA is urging parents and carers to be vigilant. Before buying a slushie, they recommend asking vendors whether the drink contains glycerol. If you are not sure, play it safe, especially with younger kids. Parents should also keep an eye on home-use slush kits and ready-to-drink slush pouches, which may also include this ingredient.

The shops have now also been instructed to stop offering free slushie refills for children under 10 and to use the minimal amount of glycerol necessary to get that slushy texture.

What to Do If a Slushie Turns Sour

If your child starts feeling queasy or dizzy after downing a slushie, do not panic, but do act. In mild cases, giving them a sugary snack or drink can help stabilise blood sugar levels. But if your child seems lethargic, confused, or unresponsive, call 999 immediately. It is better to be overly cautious than to risk a serious health episode.

Slushie Season, But Make It Safer

This new advice arrives just ahead of the school summer holidays, the peak slushie season in the UK. As temperatures soar, these icy drinks will be everywhere. The message from the FSA is clear: slushies are not forbidden, but they are not harmless either. Especially when they are packed with glycerol and served up to tiny tummies.