What trend has NOT contributed to the opioid crisis?

The decline in heroin overdoses stands out as a trend that has not contributed to the opioid crisis. The opioid crisis is characterized by an overall increase in opioid-related deaths and overdoses, which have been closely tied to prescription opioids and, more recently, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

When examining the context of this question, it becomes clear that many factors have exacerbated the crisis, including significant increases in prescription opioid overdose deaths, rising rates of synthetic opioid fatalities, and a dramatic rise in heroin overdoses beginning around 2010. Each of these trends highlights the growing complexity and severity of the opioid epidemic. However, a decline in heroin overdoses would imply a lessening of one aspect of the crisis, suggesting that it has not played a role in worsening the overall situation. This trend indicates an improvement rather than a contributing factor to the opioid crisis.