Los Angeles County Drug Overdose Statistics

Los Angeles County recorded 2,438 drug overdose deaths in 2024 — the lowest count since 2019, and the most significant single-year decline in county history. Despite this progress, more than six people died from overdose every day of the year. (LA County Department of Public Health, June 2025)

2024 LA County Overdose Death Totals and Trends

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported 2,438 total drug overdose and poisoning deaths in 2024, down from 3,137 in 2023 — a 22% reduction. This is the most significant year-over-year decline in county history and follows a previous small decline of approximately 3% in 2023.

Overdose deaths in LA County had risen sharply from 2015 through 2022, peaking at approximately 3,220 deaths (a rate of nearly 33 per 100,000 population). The peak was driven primarily by fentanyl. The 2024 data suggests that county investments in harm reduction, treatment expansion, and naloxone distribution are having an impact — though officials caution that the progress is fragile and federal funding cuts pose a significant risk.

Fentanyl: The Dominant Drug in LA County Overdoses

Fentanyl was involved in 1,263 LA County overdose deaths in 2024 — a 37% decline from 2,001 in 2023 and the first reduction since LA County began routinely testing for the drug. Fentanyl now accounts for 52% of all LA County overdose deaths, down from 64% in 2023.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. Since 2016, when accidental fentanyl overdose deaths stood at just 109, the drug has increased by 1,652% at its peak in 2022. The 2024 decline represents meaningful progress, but fentanyl remains the primary driver of overdose mortality in the county.

Methamphetamine Deaths in LA County

Methamphetamine-related overdose deaths decreased 20% in 2024 compared to 2023 — a significant decline that mirrors the broader trend of improving but still serious overdose outcomes in LA County. Meth remains the second-most-common drug in LA County fatal overdoses.

For the first time in years, fentanyl deaths dropped below methamphetamine deaths in 2024 in some age categories, signaling a shift in the county's drug supply landscape — though both substances continue to claim hundreds of lives annually.

Who Is Most Affected: Age, Race, and Geography

Adults between the ages of 40 and 64 experienced the highest absolute number of fentanyl overdose deaths in 2024, followed by adults aged 26–39. Adults aged 26–39 had the highest age-specific rate at 22.8 deaths per 100,000 population.

Males die from fentanyl overdose at 4.4 times the rate of females in LA County. Black residents are disproportionately represented in overdose deaths relative to their share of the county's population. Hispanics and Latinos account for the largest absolute number of fentanyl deaths (508 in 2024).

Geographically, the rate of fentanyl overdose deaths was four times higher in the county's least affluent areas compared to its most affluent areas — a stark reflection of the structural inequalities that drive health outcomes.

San Gabriel Valley Overdose Burden

La Puente and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley communities fall within LA County's Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3). This region — spanning communities from Alhambra east through Pomona — is home to one of the county's largest concentrations of working-class Latino families and has historically been both a methamphetamine corridor and increasingly a fentanyl-affected area.

The county's data showing that Hispanics and Latinos account for the largest number of fentanyl deaths, and that poverty is the strongest geographic predictor of overdose mortality, reflects conditions directly relevant to many SGV communities. Access to inpatient treatment close to home matters — and Clarity Wellness connects San Gabriel Valley families with licensed programs at 13046 Valley Blvd in La Puente.

Naloxone Access in Los Angeles County

Naloxone (Narcan) is an opioid reversal medication that can stop an opioid or fentanyl overdose within minutes of administration. In California, naloxone is available without a prescription at most pharmacies. The CalRx Naloxone Access Initiative makes naloxone available OTC at pharmacies for $19 for a twin-pack. LA County libraries distribute free naloxone and fentanyl test strips at branches across the county, including within SPA 3. LA County's Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) program maintains free Naloxone Access Points across the county with no ID or payment required.

How to Get Someone Into Treatment

If someone you care about is struggling with substance use in the San Gabriel Valley or greater Los Angeles County, the fastest path to professional help is a direct call to placement advisors. The phone is answered 24 hours a day at (213) 436-1422. Placement advisors can assess the clinical situation, verify insurance benefits, and often facilitate same-day admission.

For crisis situations, call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or the LA County SAPC 24/7 helpline at 800-854-7771. For a life-threatening overdose, call 911 immediately.