Drug Deaths
Oregon overdose deaths are down, CDC data shows 5/16/25 OHA continues to focus on programs with proven impact to get at root causes of addiction, address behavioral health needs across Oregon PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon’s overdose deaths decreased 22% between December 2023 and December 2024, a trend similar to that experienced nationwide, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. “It is heartening to see this decrease in deaths due to overdose in Oregon, but the total still remains far too high, impacting families and communities across our state,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist at the OHA Public Health Division. “We must continue to work together to keep people safe and build treatment and recovery supports for people struggling with substance use disorder.” The count is still much higher than pre-pandemic years, with 1,480 deaths within that one-year time span, CDC data show. The preliminary data signify a decrease in fatal and nonfatal overddrug-deaths.htmloses in Oregon from 2023 to 2024. The decreasing trend is likely due to a combination of factors, including strengthened substance use treatment infrastructure, naloxone distribution and education, prevention programs, and changes in the illicit drug supply with less fentanyl overall. This is good news, officials say, but work to reduce drug use and overdose is as important as ever. While a decrease in overdose deaths is notable, Oregon’s substance use and overdose rates represent an ongoing and complex public health crisis created by multiple social, economic and systemic factors. Implementing a population health approach includes both upstream and downstream initiatives that can decrease substance use initiation and promote improved quality of life and well-being among Oregonians. Some specific investments that are contributing to Oregon’s decrease in overdoses include the following: Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse The Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse works with any organization that wants support in responding to the fentanyl crisis. The Clearinghouses began with six agencies and now works with more than 380 agencies across the state. All these agencies are locally oriented. These partnerships are with diverse groups that meet members of the community in a wide range of settings and circumstances. Opioid treatment programs Oregon has been steadily increasing the availability of opioid treatment programs (OTPs). There are 27 full-service OTPs in Oregon, two OTP medication units, and four mobile OTP units. This includes nine new OTP sites over the last biennium. Oregon also expanded telehealth for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and removed of prior authorizations for MOUD. Residential treatment capacity In June 2024, OHA published a landmark study on the state’s residential treatment capacity. That study has been the foundation for immediate and long-term investments to increase residential capacity across the state. Currently, 260 beds dedicated to SUD treatment are in development and 41 beds dedicated to withdrawal management are in development. Behavioral Health Regional Networks (BHRNs) BHRNs are funded through cannabis tax revenue, Drug Treatment and Recovery Services Funds. Between 2022 and 2025, $414 million has been allocated to BHRNs statewide. BHRNs assess their communities’ needs and tailor programming and services across six core areas: screening and assessment, harm reduction, housing services, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, supported employment and peer support services. Engagement across every category of service has grown steadily since 2022, with particularly notable increases for peer support services, SUD treatment, and harm reduction services Investment in the peer support services and system Peer services for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) in Oregon are designed to provide support, guidance and encouragement from individuals who have lived experience with recovery. These services foster connection, reduce stigma and empower individuals on their recovery journey. Programs supported by the OHA focus on harm reduction, recovery planning and building healthy relationships. These services are available in every county. About Oregon Health Authority: Oregon Health Authority is committed to advancing health equity, improving the health of people in Oregon and ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care. Everyone has a right to know about and use Oregon Health Authority programs and services. Some examples of the free help we can provide include sign language and spoken language interpreters, written materials in other languages, Braille, large print, audio, and other formats. If you need help or have questions, please contact us.
Healthiest State: Nebraska: 7.2 Least-healthy State: West Virginia: 48.3 Definition: Number of deaths due to drug injury (unintentional, suicide, homicide or undetermined) per 100,000 population (3-year estimate age-adjusted to mid-year) Data Source & Year(s): CDC WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death, Multiple Cause of Death files, 2015-2023 Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death, Multiple Cause of Death files, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, Accessed 2020. WHY DOES THIS MATTER? The United States is in the midst of a drug crisis with fatal consequences. Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of injury death and have more than tripled between 1999 and 2017. There were more than 70,000 confirmed drug overdose deaths in 2017, and of those, more than 47,000 involved an opioid. A 2017 report from the Council of Economic Advisers estimated the total cost of the opioid epidemic in the United States to have been between $293.9 billion and $622.1 billion in 2015. Heavy drug use and overdoses burden individuals, families, their communities, the health care system and the economy. The effects of substance misuse contribute to significant public health problems including crime, homicide and suicide, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, child abuse and motor vehicle accidents. WHO IS AFFECTED? Individuals with overlapping prescriptions from multiple prescribers and/or pharmacies, and those who take a high daily dosage of prescription pain relievers (i.e. methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone) are more vulnerable to overdose and abuse of prescription opioids. Populations of adults with high drug overdose death rates include:
WHAT WORKS Strategies to prevent overdose deaths and reduce harm among those with opioid addiction include:
Moreover, one study found a strong association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and illicit drug use in adulthood. Strategies to prevent ACEs include:
For primary care providers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain and a prescription checklist to encourage safe prescribing practices. Individuals can work with their doctors to safely and effectively manage their pain and avoid the risk of opioid abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse offers resources and advice about what to do if someone you know has a problem with drugs. GOALS Reducing drug-induced deaths is a Healthy People 2020 goal, with a target to reduce the rate by 10% from 12.6 drug-induced deaths per 100,000 (2007 rate) to 11.3 deaths per 100,000 population. REFERENCES Dowell, Deborah, et al. “CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016.” MMWR. Recommendations and Reports, vol. 65, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 1–49. DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr6501e1. Dube, S. R., et al. “Childhood Abuse, Neglect, and Household Dysfunction and the Risk of Illicit Drug Use: The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study.” PEDIATRICS, vol. 111, no. 3, Mar. 2003, pp. 564–72. DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.1542/peds.111.3.564. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, et al. Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic: Balancing Societal and Individual Benefits and Risks of Prescription Opioid Use. Edited by Richard J. Bonnie et al., National Academies Press, 2017. DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.17226/24781. Rudd, Rose A., et al. “Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States, 2010–2015.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 65, no. 5051, Dec. 2016, pp. 1445–52. DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm655051e1 Related Measures: Drug Deaths Measures Closely Related to "Drug Deaths"
Measures Related to "Drug Deaths"
Soource: www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/Drugdeaths/state/OR
Least-healthy State: Alabama: 100.7 Definition: Number of psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, providers that treat alcohol and other drug abuse as well as advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care per 100,000 population Data Source & Year(s): U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, Sept. 2019; CDC WONDER Single Race Population Estimates 2010-2023, 2019 Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. HHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, Sept. 2019; CDC WONDER Single Race Population Estimates 2010-2023, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, Accessed 2020. WHY DOES THIS MATTER? Mental health providers offer essential care to adults and children who have a mental or behavioral disorder by offering services such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment, medication, and therapeutic interventions. The mental health workforce includes a broad array of professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, professionals treating alcohol and other drug abuse and advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, 17.9% of Americans experienced some form of mental illness (not including substance abuse disorders) in 2016 but only 43.1% of adults with any mental illness and 64.8% with a serious mental illness reported receiving treatment in the past year. An analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that nearly 115 million Americans live in mental health shortage areas, and only 26.1% of the need is being met. The National Council of Behavioral Health (NCBH) reported that 77% of counties in the United States are experiencing a severe shortage of mental health providers. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projected that by 2025 there will be a 45,000 and 250,000 shortage in mental health professionals. WHO IS AFFECTED? While the majority of the population (70%) lives in close proximity to a mental health treatment facility (less than 10 miles) mental health provider shortages remain common. Populations with poor access to mental health care include: Rural communities where individuals are less likely to have a mental health treatment facility than metropolitan counties. Communities with a higher percentage of black or Hispanic individuals are less likely to have a mental health treatment facility. Low-income communities, where individuals are less likely to have mental health treatment resources and mental health professionals than high-income communities. Moreover, there is an uneven distribution of mental health providers among the states. California has 14.9% of the nation’s psychiatrists whereas Wyoming has only 0.1%.
WHAT WORKS? Strategies to cope with shortages and to increase the number of mental health professionals include:
GOALS Healthy People 2020 has multiple objectives related to mental health, including increasing the proportion of primary care facilities that provide mental health treatment onsite or by paid referral, increasing the proportion of adults and children with mental illness who receive treatment and increasing depression screening by primary care providers. REFERENCES Bashshur, Rashid L., et al. “The Empirical Evidence for Telemedicine Interventions in Mental Disorders.” Telemedicine and E-Health, vol. 22, no. 2, Feb. 2016, pp. 87–113. DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.1089/tmj.2015.0206. Butryn, Tracy, et al. “The Shortage of Psychiatrists and Other Mental Health Providers: Causes, Current State, and Potential Solutions.” International Journal of Academic Medicine, vol. 3, no. 1, 2017, pp. 5–9, doi:10.4103/IJAM.IJAM_49_17. Cummings, Janet R., et al. “Geographic Access to Specialty Mental Health Care Across High- and Low-Income US Communities.” JAMA Psychiatry, vol. 74, no. 5, May 2017, p. 476. DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0303. Health Resources and Services Administration/National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Office of Policy, Planning, and Innovation. National Projections of Supply and Demand for Selected Behavioral Health Practitioners: 2013-2025. 2015, p. 35. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bhw/health-workforce-analysis/research/projections/behavioral-health2013-2025.pdf Park-Lee, Eunice, et al. “Receipt of Services for Substance Use and Mental Health Issues Among Adults: Results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.” CBHSQ Data Review, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US), 2012. PubMed, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481724/. Patel, Vikram, et al. “Mental Health of Young People: A Global Public-Health Challenge.” The Lancet, vol. 369, no. 9569, Apr. 2007, pp. 1302–13. www.thelancet.com, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60368-7. Source: www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/MHP/state/OR
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