2024 LA County Overdose Death Data
According to the LA County Department of Public Health's June 2025 analysis: total overdose deaths fell from 3,137 (2023) to 2,438 (2024), a 22% decline and the largest single-year improvement in county history. Fentanyl-related deaths fell from 2,001 to 1,263 — a 37% reduction. Methamphetamine deaths decreased 20%. This follows a prior year of improvement, representing sustained progress after years of escalation.
Fentanyl: The Leading Driver of Overdose Deaths
Fentanyl was involved in 52% of LA County's 2024 overdose deaths — down from 64% in 2023. The proportion of all opioid deaths involving fentanyl has increased from 19% in 2016 to 91% in 2024. An increasing share of LA's fentanyl supply contains xylazine ('tranq'), which complicates both overdose response and treatment.
Age and Gender Breakdown
Adults between 40 and 64 were most affected in absolute numbers in 2024. Adults ages 26–39 had the highest per-capita death rate at 22.8 per 100,000 population. Males accounted for significantly more fentanyl deaths than females — roughly 4:1 by rate. This gap reflects both use patterns and help-seeking disparities.
Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities
Black residents experienced the highest fentanyl overdose rate at 31.7 per 100,000 in 2024 — though this rate decreased 46% from 2023. White residents: 18.9/100k. Hispanic/Latino residents: 10.6/100k. The overdose rate in the least affluent areas (30%+ below poverty line) was 39.1 per 100,000, compared to 10.0 in the most affluent areas — nearly a 4x disparity.
How LA County Is Responding
LA County increased investments in substance use prevention by 260%, treatment services by 275%, and harm reduction services by 500% in 2024. The Fentanyl Frontline campaign expanded naloxone distribution. ByLAforLA.org connects residents to harm reduction resources. In 2022, LA County distributed over 50,000 naloxone doses, resulting in more than 3,000 overdose reversals.
All statistics on this page are sourced from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Source report: lapublichealth.org/sapc/MDU/SpecialReport/Fentanyl-Overdoses-in-Los-Angeles-County.pdf
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