PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – As the national number of fentanyl deaths continues to grow, data show that Oregon has seen a particularly staggering increase.
According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the state had the largest year-to-year increase of fentanyl deaths in 2023 – with the state of Washington following close behind.
Winter-like conditions possible around Portland region next week
Oregon experienced a 41% increase in drug overdose deaths between September 2022 and September 2023. The data, first reported by The Oregonian , tracked that 500 more state residents died from a fentanyl overdose during that time.
Nearly 12,000 more people have been killed by fentanyl – an increase of 1,526% – since the CDC started its project in 2019. Four years ago, 13% of overdose deaths were from fentanyl. In 2023, those numbers jumped to 72%
It comes as the state, City of Portland and Multnomah County declared a 90-day state of emergency in late January . However, Multnomah County commissioners Sharon Meieran and Julia Brim-Edwards have criticized the tri-state emergency with claims that they haven’t seen any action nearly 20 days later .