Fact Check: Did 2024 Overdoses Exceed Vietnam War Deaths?

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.

Claimant: Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R)

Claim: Fentanyl and drug overdoses in 2024 claimed more lives than the Vietnam War.

Rating: BLATANT LIE

Explanation: CDC data shows 79,000 overdose deaths from January 2024 to January 2025—far below Vietnam War estimates. The war caused at least 258,220 combatant deaths, with total casualties approaching 940,220. Mullin’s claim compares total overdoses to only U.S. military deaths, distorting the numbers.

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Date: 12/03/2025

 

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Last Updated on December 3, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check

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