July 11, 2022
Oregon has seen its fair share of challenges over the past years. The state's addiction rate skyrocketed, ranking fifth-worst for substance abuse and the poorest in terms of accessibility to treatment.
Oregon is known for its picturesque sceneries, bustling wildlife, charming cityscape, and a delectable food scene. It has a reputation for having an offbeat and welcoming culture, drawing people from various parts of the world.
However, despite being a very relaxed state, Oregon has seen its fair share of challenges over the past years. The state's addiction rate skyrocketed, ranking fifth-worst for substance abuse and the poorest in terms of accessibility to treatment.
While it remains unclear how Oregon found itself in this position, data shows deeper issues behind all of this. People suffering from addiction usually have co-occurring mental health disorders, which impede their ability to function well in society.
There is a growing need to provide optimal treatment services to address substance abuse and other issues prompting this addictive behavior.
Today's blog post will look at how addiction impacts Oregon and where we stack up compared to the rest of the country.
Studies conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that the overdose rate in the country climbed from 93,655 in 2020 to 107,622 in 2021.[1] This translates to a 14.91 percent growth in just a year.
Oregon has also recorded a 26.5 percent increase in its drug overdose death rate from 615 to 803. The current overdose death rate in-state is 18.7 out of every 100,000 residents.[2]
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that about 57.2 million people in the United States used illicit substances in 2019. This includes marijuana, opioid, hallucinogens, cocaine, and methamphetamine. However, in 2020, this number ballooned to about 59.3 million. [3] [4]
Meanwhile, reports indicate that 712,000 people in Oregon struggled with illicit drug use in 2019, but it went up to 767,000 the following year.[5] [6]
Here are a few of the most commonly used illegal substances and their corresponding number of users. Note that these people could have used more than one type of substance prior to 2019 and 2020.
Marijuana Use
In 2019, there were 48.2 million people who were past-year users of marijuana in the country, but it climbed to 49.6 million people the following year.[3] [4]
The state of Oregon recorded 969,000 past-year marijuana users in 2019, while in 2020, they had 1,008,000 users.[5] [6]
Cocaine Use
In 2019, around 5.5 million people were recorded as past-year users of cocaine, but it trended down in 2020 with 5.2 million people.[3] [4]
Oregon had about 104,000 past-year cocaine users in 2019, but it fluctuated to 86,000 in 2020.[5] [6]
Methamphetamine Use
In 2019, there are roughly 2 million past-year users of methamphetamine across the country. However, it grew to 2.5 million people in 2020.[3] [4]
45,000 people in Oregon used methamphetamine during the past year in 2019, while in 2020, there were about 70,000 people.[5] [6]
Synthetic Opioid Use
The CDC reports that in 2022, 67% [1] of drug overdoses in the country were attributed to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
While the same report from the CDC says that this year 75%[1] of Oregon drug overdoses were attributed to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
A study conducted in 2019 reveals that 4.3 million adolescents in the United States have tried using illicit drugs. However, it went down by 23 percent in 2020 with 3.4 million adolescents. [3] [4]
In Oregon, the rate of substance use among adolescents during the same period was stable. It recorded 34,000 cases for both 2019 and 2020.[5] [6]
Chronic homelessness refers to those who have been homeless for at least a year — or on multiple occasions — while suffering from a significant mental illness, substance abuse disorder, or physical impairment.
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that about 96,141 people nationwide experienced chronic homelessness in 2019.[7] However, it rose to 110,528 people the following year.[8]
In Oregon, the rate of chronically homeless individuals remained the same in 2019 and 2020 with 4,609 per 10,000 individuals. [7] [8]
In 2018, the United States recorded an estimated 1,654,282 arrests due to drug law violations. [9] 86.4 percent were for possession of a controlled substance, while 13.6 percent were for the sale or manufacture of a drug. However, it dropped to 1,558,862 arrests in 2019.[9]
Meanwhile, Oregon recorded 18,033 cases of statewide drug-related arrests in 2018, but it decreased to 16,380 in 2019.[10] [11]
Drug-related offenses in the state may further plummet in the coming years as the Oregon decriminalization law, or Measure 110, took effect last year. This made possessing personal-use amounts of drugs a civil citation rather than a crime. [12]
The maximum fine for this is $100; however, it can be waived if the person contacts a hotline for a health examination. Addiction counseling and other assistance may be available through this call.
Drug abuse cases surged in the past decade, reaching a peak in prevalence in 2020 when the pandemic hit.
This addiction problem, when left unsolved, could impact individuals, families, and the community. As such, it is vital to strengthen rehabilitation programs and facilities to create a lasting change.
To curb the overall rates of drug use, government and non-government organizations need to work together. They must do their best to provide better access to treatment services.
Another Chance is committed to providing evidence-based therapies and other necessary tools for your long-term recovery. Our experienced and qualified professionals can give the appropriate levels of care to help you overcome substance abuse.
You don't have to feel alone again. We offer counseling, therapy, and other holistic activities to get you on your path to a sober life. Give us a call today, and we'll be there to assist you.
Sources:
1. U.S. Overdose Deaths In 2021 Increased Half as Much as in 2020 – But Are Still Up 15%. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. Drug Overdose Mortality by State. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
3. Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States:Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
4. Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
5. OREGON - National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2018-2019. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
6. OREGON - National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2019-2020. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
7. The 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
8. The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
9. Arrests and the Criminal Legal System. Drug Policy Facts.
10. 2018 State of Oregon Annual Uniform Crime Report. Oregon Law Enforcement Agencies.
11. 2019 State of Oregon Annual Uniform Crime Report. Oregon Law Enforcement Agencies.
12. Oregon 1st state to decriminalize possession of drugs. AP News.
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