Opioids

Why It Matters

Oregon, like most of the United States, continues to grapple with increasing rates of substance use disorder connected to opioids, alcohol, and illicit drugs, such as fentanyl.
“Approximately 21.5 million people aged 12 or older in 2014 had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, 3 including 17.0 million people with an alcohol use disorder, 7.1 million with an illicit drug use disorder, and 2.6 million who had both an alcohol use and an illicit drug use disorder.”(1)

According to the Oregon Health Authority, “Oregon has one of the highest rates of misuse of prescription opioids in the nation. An average of 5 Oregonians die every week from opioid overdose.”(2) Widespread opioid overdose and misuse elevated the issue to a public health crisis.

What We Are Doing

Local public health authorities (LPHAs) work within their communities to prevent overdoses and work closely with partners to de-stigmatize SUD.  LPHAs also look at additional public health issues connected to increased rates of SUD, such as the spread of infectious disease from sharing needles, and providing local solutions to prevent further harm.

In the 2019 legislative session, CLHO supported HB 2257, the Governor’s Opioid Task Force bill, that will continue to move the dial in addressing substance use disorders.