Oregon Health Authority outlines steps taken to combat the problem
PORTLAND, Oregon. (KTVZ) – Oregon is following a national trend that has seen sharp increases in drug overdose deaths this year, an increase that the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partially attribute to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oregon’s 580 drug overdose deaths are among the more than 81,000 drug overdose deaths that occurred in the United States in the 12 months ending in May, the Oregon Health Authority said on Wednesday.
According to a December 17 CDC report, this was the highest number of overdose deaths on record in a 12-month period. The federal agency presumed that “disruption in daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit hard on those with substance use disorder.”
“Food insecurity and interruptions in access to safe housing and mental health services have aggravated the stress caused by job losses, school and social isolation and other problems caused by the pandemic,” said Tom Jeanne, MD, MPH, deputy health officer of the state epidemiologist of the Public Health Division of OHA.
“The COVID crisis has also disrupted the ways in which people with substance use disorders can get help, such as mental health services, 12-step programs and outpatient visits,” added Jeanne.
From January to June, at least 339 people died from a drug overdose in Oregon. This number is almost 40% higher than the number of deaths from overdose in the same period of 2019 and represents an increase of almost 35% over the previous semester, July to December 2019.
As previously reported by OHA, there was an increase in drug overdose deaths during the second quarter of 2020. Compared to the second quarter of 2019, the number of overdose deaths increased by more than 63%. Overdose deaths increased in April, peaked in May, and returned to almost monthly averages in June and July.
While most Oregon overdose deaths this year involved opioids, illicit fentanyl, a synthetic opioid and methamphetamines have contributed to the rate of drug overdose, reflecting national trends.
Illegal fentanyl and methamphetamine abuse appears to have driven the rise in overdose deaths in the second quarter of 2020. Compared to the first quarter, overdose deaths in Oregon involving methamphetamine / amphetamine increased 37%; those involving fentanyl, 92%; heroin, 9%; and cocaine 57%.
Previous research suggests that deaths involving cocaine are likely linked to co-use or contamination with fentanyl or other drugs.
“Although the exact overdose numbers for the past few months have not yet been updated due to the results of pending toxicology tests, the initial data showed a worrying increase in suspected drug overdose deaths in November,” said the OHA.
In line with the CDC’s recommendations, OHA said it is taking steps to reduce drug overdose deaths:
- More than 9,200 active methadone patients in Oregon are receiving methadone through Oregon’s opioid treatment providers. Most OTPs are concentrated along the Interstate 5 corridor, serving Oregon’s four largest metropolitan areas. As of September 2019, Oregon also had 1,360 federally certified doctors to prescribe buprenorphine. Coastal and rural communities in Oregon do not have access to drugs for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
- The PRIME + program (Peer Recovery Initiated in Medical Establishments) offers peer harm reduction support for people who currently use drugs and are present in medical settings. The program aims to reduce overdoses and infections related to harmful drug use. PRIME + peer support specialists help people who use drugs by providing access to naloxone, supplies for safer use, HIV and hepatitis C testing, primary care, substance use treatment and more. The PRIME + program is expanding to 23 locations in 20 Oregon counties.
- Oregon recently established a COVID-19 Harm Reduction Supply Compensation Chamber to support agencies serving people at risk of overdose. Supported agencies include community outreach, harm prevention and reduction programs, abstinence and substance use treatment programs and border and rural rescuers across Oregon. More than 68 organizations have ordered $ 2.4 million in harm reduction supplies, including naloxone, to distribute to people at risk of overdose to prevent overdose deaths.
- OHA, in collaboration with Oregon / Idaho HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), is working with public safety and public health partners to implement ODMAP – a real-time suspected overdose surveillance data system for mobilize an immediate response to a sudden increase in overdose events in local communities. HIDTA recently discovered that a large number of seizures of narcotic pills by participating law enforcement agencies by the third quarter of 2020, which appear to be pharmaceutical narcotics such as oxycodone, are likely counterfeits containing fentanyl.
Health officials are reminding people that opioid use disorder can be successfully treated. Those who need help to stop using opioids can talk to their healthcare professionals or consult the OHA resource list.
In addition, Oregon law allows laypeople to carry and use naloxone, a drug that can be used to reverse an opioid overdose in others. Learn more about naloxone. If a person is using substances alone, the Never use the hotline alone (800-484-3731) can be a non-judgmental, life-saving point of contact for emergency services.
Lines for Life and Oregon-based nonprofit OHA recently launched the Safe + Strong Helpline at 1-800-923-4357 (800-923-HELP). The line offers emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and referrals of funds to anyone who needs them – not just those who are going through a mental health crisis. The Safe + Strong Helpline is a response to the needs for emotional support around disasters such as COVID-19 and forest fires and was funded by the CARES Law. Callers are referred to a counselor who can provide emotional support, mental health screening, drug and alcohol counseling, crisis counseling or just connection.