An estimated 1,454,000 Los Angeles County residents struggle with a Substance Use Disorder.1
In Los Angeles County, accidental fentanyl overdose deaths increased rapidly to 1,970 in 2023 and then declined sharply by 37% in 2024 to 1,267 and an additional 10% decline to 1,135 in 2025 attributed to coordinated public health approach focused on harm reduction, prevention and expanded treatment.
Substance Use Disorders not only affect the person with the condition—it impacts their families, friends and the community. That’s why it’s important to know that Substance Use Disorder treatment is available, and that it works!
Drug overdose caused individuals, on average, to die 33 years prematurely in LA County3
Drug Overdose Deaths in LA County, 2015 – 20244
Percentage of people who need treatment, but do not get it.5
CITATIONS
SAPC Data Brief: Costs of Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse/Abuse (November 2025) SAPCCostDataBrief.pdf
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (2025, June 25). Public Health Reports Most Significant Decline in Drug-Related Overdose Deaths in LA County History. [release].
SAPC Data Brief: Prescription (Rx) Opioid Misuse/Abuse and Consequences (November 2025) Opioid-Brief.pdf
Data Report: Fentanyl Overdoses in Los Angeles County. Health Outcomes and Data Analytics Branch, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, July 2024. FentanylOverdosesFinal.pdf
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2023). Results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2022-nsduh-detailed-tables Accessed: April 11, 2024
