US overdose deaths decreasing for first time in five years

Overdose deaths in the United States are decreasing for the first time in five years, US President Joe Biden said in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

He urged world leaders to not let up on efforts to tackle synthetic drugs and the overdose crisis and called on nations to sign on to a new global coalition pledge. Biden said the new pledge includes three commitments: disrupting the production and distribution of illicit drugs, stepping up communication between countries on drug threats and increasing access to life-saving medication and treatments.