2024 Overdose Death Totals and Trend
LA County recorded 2,438 drug-related overdose and poisoning deaths in 2024, down from 3,137 in 2023 — a reduction of 699 deaths and the most significant single-year decline in county history. This is the second consecutive year of decline after the county's peak of approximately 3,100+ deaths in prior years. The 2024 total is the lowest since 2019. Health officials attribute the decline to substantially increased investment in harm reduction, treatment access, and the Fentanyl Frontline public awareness campaign. (Source: LA County DPH, June 2025; NBC Los Angeles)
Fentanyl Deaths in LA County
Fentanyl-related deaths declined 37% in 2024, dropping from 2,001 to 1,263 deaths. This mirrors the national trend — the CDC reported a 37% reduction in fentanyl deaths nationwide for the same period. Despite the decline, fentanyl remains the dominant substance in LA's overdose crisis, present in 91% of all opioid overdose deaths and accounting for 52% of all accidental drug overdose deaths — down from 64% in 2023. Between 2016 and 2022, fentanyl overdose deaths in LA County rose by 1,652%, from 109 to 1,910 deaths. The 2024 figures represent a meaningful reversal of that trajectory. (Source: LA County DPH SAPC)
Methamphetamine-Related Deaths
Meth-related overdose deaths declined 20% in 2024. For the first time in several years, fentanyl deaths fell below methamphetamine deaths in absolute numbers — a potential inflection point in the county's overdose landscape. Methamphetamine remains the second-most common substance in LA County overdose deaths. (Source: LA County District Attorney, 2025)
Who Is Most Affected?
Adults aged 26–39 had the highest rate of fentanyl overdose deaths at 22.8 per 100,000 population in 2024. Adults aged 40–64 represent the highest absolute number of fentanyl deaths. Males account for the majority of fentanyl-related deaths — at a rate nearly four times higher than females. By race and ethnicity, Black residents face the highest fentanyl death rate at 31.7 per 100,000, followed by White residents at 18.9, Hispanic/Latino residents at 10.6, and Asian residents at 1.8 per 100,000. (Source: LA County DPH SAPC)
Geographic and Socioeconomic Disparities
Fentanyl overdose death rates in the least affluent areas of LA County — where more than 30% of families live below the federal poverty level — were 39.1 per 100,000. In the most affluent areas, the rate was 10.0 per 100,000. This nearly four-fold disparity underscores the intersection of poverty, housing instability, and overdose risk. (Source: LA County DPH SAPC)
Where to Find Help in Los Angeles
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction in Los Angeles County, help is available. Call Sunrise Wellness at (213) 436-1475 for a free, confidential clinical assessment and insurance verification. For immediate crisis support, call or text 988. For LA County-funded treatment referrals, call SASH at 1-844-804-7500. Free naloxone is available through the OEND program at laodprevention.org.