Last year, Oregon saw a roughly 33% increase in overdose deaths over the previous year, setting a sobering new record that indicates the state’s opioid issue is far from ended.
Every community in the state of Oregon has been impacted by the overdose crisis, and because these incidents are extremely delicate and traumatic, they have resulted in harm, trauma, and loss that affect everyone’s well-being, according to a statement from epidemiologist Liz McCarthy of the Oregon Health Authority.
McCarthy’s agency promised to provide the 2024 overdose data as soon as it became available, and on Thursday it released the finalized 2023 data.
According to the most recent data, 1,833 persons in Oregon lost their lives to drug overdoses last year, up from 1,383 in 2022, 1,189 in 2021, 824 in 2020, and 626 in 2019.
This indicates that overdose deaths in Oregon were almost three times higher last year than they were four years prior. Additionally, it indicates that the rise in overdose deaths isn’t even abating. Only 16% more people died from overdoses in 2022 than in 2021. That is over half of the 2022–2023 percentage point increase in fatalities.
According to state statistics, stimulants and synthetic opioids like fentanyl are responsible for the great majority of overdose deaths. According to the Oregon Health Authority, opioids and stimulants were implicated in just over half of all unintentional overdose deaths in Oregon this year.
Fedor Zarkhin is an enterprise and breaking news reporter. Have you got a story? Contact him by email at [email protected] or by phone at 971-373-2905.
Your support is essential to our journalism. Sign up for OregonLive.com now.
Most Popular Stories by
Fedor Zarkhin
-
Fewer calls about rat problems a mystery ; Portland area still has plenty of attractions for the pests
-
2 men accused of stealing time and again from Pearl District Lululemon, selling merchandise online
-
Small Oregon school district gets $2 million emergency loan after budgeting errors
-
Naomi Pomeroy drowned while visiting a friend who then tried to save her, records show
-
Father of Coos County 5-year-old boy found dead wants answers: I can t believe this has happened
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
