Oregon overdose deaths on the rise as national cases decline

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon is once again seeing an increase in drug overdose deaths, year over year, even as the national average is trending downward.

The Oregon Health Authority releases data on overdose deaths annually. The latest report, released this week, covers Oregon overdose data from 2023. That is due to the fact that it takes nearly a year to gather and analyze the information, officials said. The data for 2024 is still being processed.

The newest report shows overdose deaths surged by over 30% in Oregon in 2023 compared to the year before. Oregon saw 1,383 overdose deaths in 2022 and 1,833 in 2023.

Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention show Oregon, Washington and Alaska are collectively leading the surge in overdose deaths with an increase of 27%.

The U.S. as a whole saw overdose deaths drop by 3%, the CDC said. It marks the first sign of a decline in overdose deaths nationwide in six years. States like Maine and Indiana are leading the pack with reducing overdose deaths as they saw a striking 15% drop.

Over half of the overdose deaths in Oregon in 2023 were from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, health officials said. Overdose deaths caused by heroin saw a sharp decline.

KOIN 6 News asked officials with boots on the ground with the unhoused community why Oregon continues to see a rise in overdose deaths.

"I think we're still feeling the effects — or we were feeling the effects at that time — of the pandemic," said Jonathan Modie, an OHA spokesperson.

Modie explained that the fentanyl crisis originally began on the East Coast in the U.S. The West Coast, including states like Oregon, saw a delay but “when it hit, it hit hard,” he said.

Scott Kerman is the executive director of Blanchet House, which is a non-profit that supports Portland’s homeless community. 

“I think there's no question that 2023 was a horrific year in terms of overdoses," Kerman said. “I'm not even sure if I ever said the word ‘fentanyl’ in 2022.”

Officials said early data for 2024 may point to good news on the horizon. 

“We do have very preliminary — the 2024 data — that do show that Oregon may be seeing a similar trend in [...] a decrease in overdoses," Modie said. "It often takes several years for the effects of all that work, the prevention work, the treatment, those things to take effect on the overall picture for Oregon overdose.”

The OHA said a lot of funding and programs in the works are expected to make a positive impact on the fentanyl crisis in Oregon in the coming years. Examples include increasing the distribution of naloxone, increasing access to substance abuse treatments, scaling up peer support and intervention programs, continuing education campaigns and providing more schools with naloxone kits.

Funding is expected to make a dent in the opioid crisis as well, such as settlements from lawsuits against several opioid companies totaling $600 million that will be distributed in Oregon over 18 years. Governor Tina Kotek has also proposed in her 2025-27 budget $155 million for programs and services related to battling addiction and supporting those in recovery. 

Officials said a good way the average citizen can contribute to fighting the opioid crisis is to keep Narcan — the brand name for the overdose prevention drug naloxone — in your car or bag in case you encounter someone who is in crisis.