On March 18, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Sec. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., renewed the public health emergency (PHE) declaration for the national opioid crisis, extending key federal flexibilities for another 90 days. While opioid-related overdose deaths have declined by 25.5% over the past year, synthetic opioids like fentanyl remain the leading cause of drug-related fatalities, with 150 Americans dying daily from overdose. In rural areas, rates of drug overdose deaths are rising and have surpassed rates in urban areas. The PHE, first declared in 2017, allows HHS to maintain expanded authorities for data collection, demonstration projects, and research initiatives aimed at improving treatment access and coordination. Sec. Kennedy emphasized the Administration’s commitment to treating the opioid crisis as a national security emergency, continuing efforts to prevent substance use, reduce overdose deaths, and support recovery programs.
