The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates a record number of people died from drug overdoses in 2017.
The CDC estimates around 72,000 people fatally overdosed. Experts point to two contributing factors: More Americans are using opioids, and drugs are becoming more deadly.
In response to the crisis, hard-hit areas like New England and parts of Ohio took measures to combat the epidemic. Those areas did see a drop in overdose deaths over the course of the year, and that trend has continued into 2018.
The Trump administration has declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency. States now have access to $1 billion in grand funds to cope with the epidemic.
