Oregon’s Overdose Deaths Climb to One of the Highest Rates in America Despite Nearly 1 Billion Spent on Treatment
Oregon’s drug use problem continues to claim lives, despite millions of dollars spent by the state government to curb death by opioid overdose.
The state government spent more than $980.7 million on publicly funded substance use services in a recent 12-month period and allocated an estimated $1 billion to substance abuse initiatives over two years.
1,384 Deaths Equate to 32% Above the National Average
A staggering 1,384 deaths by overdose were recorded in Oregon over a 12-month period, giving the Beaver State the grim ranking as the 10th highest overdose rate in the country, according to a recent study by personal injury attorneys at Phillips Law Firm.
Source: CDC NCHS Health E Stats table for 2022 to 2023 drug overdose mortality and selected drug type rates
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With 41.71 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents, Oregon is 32% above the national average.
Drug and alcohol abuse peaks in Oregon over the December and January holidays, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
The Top 10 Fatal Drug Overdose States
| Rank | State | Overdoses per 100,000 residents | Opioid Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | 77.80 | 1,184 |
| 2 | Tennessee | 50.03 | 2,930 |
| 3 | Delaware | 49.91 | 457 |
| 4 | Alaska | 48.50 | 290 |
| 5 | Louisiana | 48.37 | 1,118 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 46.61 | 714 |
| 7 | Kentucky | 45.27 | 1,625 |
| 8 | Washington | 43.69 | 2,835 |
| 9 | Maine | 42.56 | 514 |
| 10 | Oregon | 41.71 | 1,384 |
Researchers analyzed drug overdose fatalities in all 50 states, using 2023 data from KFF, a health policy research organization.