Cincinnati reports a decline in overdose deaths a decade after synthetic opioids surged

A decade after carfentanil and other synthetic opioids arrived in 2016, Cincinnati-area officials report four consecutive years of falling overdose deaths; the CDC says national overdose deaths peaked in 2023 and were estimated near 73,000 for the 12 months ending August 2025.

A decade ago, carfentanil and other synthetic opioids appeared on Cincinnati-area streets and contributed to a sharp rise in overdose deaths. Local officials and first responders describe 2016 as a turning point that strained emergency services. In recent years, Hamilton County leaders report consecutive annual declines in overdose fatalities and ongoing addiction-treatment efforts. National data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a peak in overdose deaths in 2023 followed by a decline through 2025. Key facts: - Local officials say carfentanil reached Cincinnati-area streets in August 2016 and marked a severe escalation in overdoses. - Ohio recorded nearly 3,500 opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2016, an increase of about 35% from the year before, according to state health data. - Hamilton County officials report a fourth consecutive year of declining overdose deaths and emphasize treatment programs alongside enforcement. - The CDC reported national overdose deaths peaked at about 111,000 in 2023 and estimated roughly 73,000 for the 12 months ending August 2025. Summary: Local leaders describe a long, difficult period beginning with the arrival of ultrapotent synthetic opioids and now report sustained reductions in overdose deaths, while national figures also show a decline from a 2023 peak. Undetermined at this time.