Overdose deaths fall across much of Oregon
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Overdose deaths continue to decline in Oregon, with Multnomah County recording a 36% drop over the past year, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why it matters: The decline mirrors a nationwide trend, but Oregon continues to face challenges expanding access to addiction treatment.
By the numbers: There were 315 overdose deaths in Multnomah County during the 12-month period ending in March 2026, according to an Axios analysis of provisional CDC data.
- That's down from 494 deaths during the same period a year earlier, a 36% decline.
- In Clackamas County, the reported count fell 43% from 105 to 60, while Washington County saw a 47% decrease, from 99 to 52.
- Deaths fell in all 14 Oregon counties with enough data to determine a trend.
What they're saying: "This improvement is the result of deep partnerships between state agencies, behavioral health providers, local officials and law enforcement," Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement earlier this year.
Yes, but: More than 90% of the overdose deaths reported involved methamphetamine, fentanyl or a combination of the two, according to John McIlveen, Oregon's state opioid treatment authority.
- Oregon has been slow to add addiction treatment beds and, as of January, was only halfway toward its goal of 3,800 beds by 2029, per the Oregonian.
Zoom out: The CDC estimates there were nearly 68,000 overdose deaths nationwide in the 12-month period ending March 2026, about 9,500 fewer than the prior year.
- Among counties with enough data to determine year-over-year changes, overdose deaths declined in 842, increased in 430 and remained unchanged in 352.
- The disparity highlights the uneven impact of the ongoing overdose crisis, with historically marginalized communities often seeing slower recoveries.
Between the lines: The CDC cites several possible factors behind the national decline, including wider access to the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, expanded addiction treatment, and changes in the illicit drug supply.
What we're watching: Multnomah County's deflection center, which opened two years ago to offer an alternative to jail for people caught with drugs, has seen limited success connecting people with addiction treatment.
- The center received fewer than one referral per day, on average, during the first three months of the year, per Willamette Week.