Oregon was ranked second for the highest drug and alcohol addiction rates in the nation, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In 2017, Oregon had the highest rate of marijuana and pain reliever abuse. The state also ranked second in methamphetamine use and fourth in cocaine use, according to a 2019 Oregon Criminal Justice Commission report.
The state then ranked third in its rate of people needing but not receiving treatment for alcohol and drug misuse. On average, four Oregonians die every day from alcohol and other drug use, while countless more experience significant health and social problems.
In the Oregon Statewide Strategic plan for 2020-2025, state health officials highlighted a need for treatment and funding to combat this issue. It was reported that state spending on substance misuse related issues more than quadrupled since 2005, consuming nearly 17% of the entire state budget in 2017.
Oregon is currently spending an estimated $6.7 billion in state dollars on issues related to substance misuse, but less than 1% of that funding is used to prevent misuse, treat, or help people recover from substance addiction, according to the documents provided in the strategic plan.
The rest of the funding goes to pay for the cost of social and health problems related to substance misuse or regulation and compliance with laws governing the sale and use of substances, according to the documents.
In 2018, Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order that highlighted the state’s addiction crisis and put the commission and advocates to work on the plan.
By Jennifer Williams
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