The State of Oregon saw a sharp increase in opioid related deaths in the past two years. In a release from the Oregon Health Authority, unintentional opioid overdose deaths in 2021 were higher than the corresponding months of 2020 and 2019.
Opioids include prescription painkillers and illicit drugs such as heroin. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be obtained through prescription or illicitly.
According to OHA, in 2019 unintentional opioid overdose deaths numbered 280, and the following year in 2020 was a total of 472. Most recently in 2021, from January to August, the state saw a total of 473 unintentional opioid overdose deaths.
Local Drug Issues
In Benton County, emergency responders lean heavily on the usage of Naloxone to combat the current opioid crisis in the state. Naloxone is used to treat narcotic overdose in an emergency.
Benton County distributed 1,162 doses of naloxone in 2021. Of those doses distributed, 57 overdose reversals were reported, and no fatalities.
In a release from Benton County, health officials, hospitals, police, and first responders keep track of overdoses through different systems such as tracking naloxone doses that have been distributed. So, it’s important to understand that there were more overdoses in Benton County beyond what has been reported.
In 2021, opioid misuse and overdose were recognized as health threats of increasing urgency throughout the United States, including Oregon. Oregon currently has one of the highest rates of misuse of prescription opioids in the nation – an average of five Oregonians die every week from opioid overdose, according to OHA.
By Jennifer Williams
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