Oregon overdose deaths have gone down, but they’re still high

Overdose deaths in Oregon went down 22% in 2024, the Oregon Health Authority announced on Friday. 

The decrease in overdose deaths follows a nationwide trend of declining overdose deaths. In 2024, there were about 80,400 drug overdose deaths in the country — 26.9% fewer than the 110,000 overdose deaths in 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While strengthened substance use treatment infrastructure, naloxone distribution and education, prevention programs and changes in fentanyl supply…