Are 100,000 yearly drug overdose deaths the new normal?

Synthetic opioids fueled nearly 110,000 US drug overdose deaths in 2022; Deutsche Bank settles with Epstein abuse victims for $75 million.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.

The US saw 110,000 overdose deaths in 2022

Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

• The US had a preliminary count of 109,680 drug overdose deaths last year, according to CDC data released Wednesday. [New York Times / Noah Weiland]
• The number of deaths was up slightly compared to 2021, but grew at a rate much slower than during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. [The Hill / Julia Mueller]
• Synthetic opioids like fentanyl accounted for roughly two-thirds of the deaths; a quarter involved cocaine and methamphetamine. [CNN / Deidre McPhillips]
• 23 states saw fewer overdose deaths from 2021 to 2022, which officials credit to improvements in addiction treatment and awareness as well as broader access to overdose-reversing medication. All other states saw increases. [Associated Press / Mike Stobbe]
• While some experts think the number of deaths could be plateauing, the figures remain high, suggesting the US could face a drug-related public health emergency for years to come. [Washington Post / David Ovalle]

Deustche Bank to pay Epstein victims $75 million 

• Deutsche Bank on Wednesday agreed to pay $75 million to settle a proposed class action lawsuit from victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. [Wall Street Journal / James Fanelli and Khadeeja Safdar]
• The lawsuit accused the German-based bank of benefiting from Epstein’s sexual abuse of minors by providing him with financial support in 2013-2018. Those affected will receive between $75,000 and $5 million after a review of their claims. [CNBC / Eamon Javers and Dan Mangan]
• The settlement comes after Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $150 million to New York financial regulators in 2020 for failing to address irregularities with Epstein’s accounts. [NYT / Matthew Goldstein]
• Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while facing child sex trafficking charges. JPMorgan Chase faces two lawsuits for years of business with the disgraced financier, who pleaded guilty to prostitution in 2008. [Reuters / Jonathan Stempel]

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Wednesday, Montana became the first state to ban TikTok by passing a law that fines platforms for making the app available to download. The ban will take effect in 2024, if it survives expected legal challenges. [Vox / Li Zhou]

• Thousands of Jewish nationalists marched through Jerusalem waving Israeli flags to commemorate the 1967 capture of the city, raising fears of clashes with Palestinians. [Reuters / Rami Amichay]
• The Supreme Court ruled Andy Warhol violated a photographer’s copyright on a portrait of musician Prince. The vote was 7-2. [AP / Jessica Gresko]
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to enter the 2024 presidential race next week, setting up a clash with Donald Trump. [CNN / Steve Contorno and Jeff Zeleny]

“The gasoline that was COVID has diminished, but the underlying fire of the opioid epidemic remains.”

[Keith Humphreys, a Stanford psychiatry professor, on overdose deaths / Washington Post]

Why is child labor making a comeback?

The first child labor law in America went on the books almost 200 years ago. So, why are we seeing reports of children working in factories, slaughterhouses, and even at McDonald’s? Meanwhile, state legislators are introducing bills across the country that further weaken child labor protections. Historian Beth English and Vox senior policy reporter Rachel Cohen explain.

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