Maine is currently on track to have its lowest recorded amount of yearly overdose deaths since 2019.

According to the Portland Press Herald, there have been 403 drug overdose deaths between January and October of this year, or an average of 40 deaths per month. That’s down 21% from 2023’s 513 total deaths recorded in that period, and down even further from 2022’s 723 total deaths, the highest amount since 2019.

This aligns with a nationwide decrease of overdose deaths this year, with a 14% decrease in fatal overdoses between 2023 and 2024 according to the U.S Center for Disease Control.

Milestone Recovery Executive Director Tom Doherty attributes this to greater acceptance of harm reduction efforts, new laws to help people report overdoses, as well as a stronger crackdown on harmful drugs like fentanyl by the DEA.