The fentanyl epidemic gripping the nation has not spared Multnomah County, where a stark spike in overdose deaths casts a grim shadow over the community. The consecutive increase year-over-year, since 2018, has public health officials sounding alarms. The Multnomah County Health Department's recent report highlighted a jump from an average of two deaths per month in 2018 and 2019, to an anticipated near 36 monthly deaths in 2023.
These numbers aren't just statistics; they reflect a harrowing tale of loss and community trauma, "While reporting on data is a vital part of addressing any health crisis, no data report can fully describe the people who were lost to their family and friends,” Rachael Banks, the Health Department Director of Multnomah County said, “Each death counted in this report represents a real person, the grief and heartbreak of those close to them, and the trauma felt throughout our community as a result of their loss." As of now, fentanyl-related fatalities since 2018, tally up to 868 lives.
The report spots trends that fentanyl overdose deaths frequently co-occur with other substances, with methamphetamine being the most common. Duo drug use involved in fentanyl deaths has risen from 27% in 2018 to 63% in 2023. The impact has been felt most significantly downtown, with Old Town and Pearl District neighborhoods witnessing the sharpest increase in fatalities.
Dissecting the demographics of this surge, white men between the ages of 35 and 44 were predominantly affected; however, the death toll was notably high within the Black community. The data, demonstrating an unnerving disparity, indicates that American Indian/Alaska Native and Black/African American populations bear a disproportionately heavy burden, compared to other ethnic groups. Conversely, while the rates among Hispanics were relatively lower, they more than doubled between 2021 and 2022. Additionally, a disturbing upsurge has been noted within the houseless population, from 20% in 2022 to a provisional 25% in 2023.
In response, Multnomah County is escalating culturally specific efforts to combat these health inequities. The Health Department is working alongside organizations like the Future Generations Collaborative to deliver Native-specific opioid overdose training, host crisis community conversations this May, and provide essential life-saving supplies. Moreover, community forums with the Oregon Health Authority and outreach efforts in Latinx communities are underway, aiming to utilize innate community strengths in tackling the crisis at its roots. The surge in overdose deaths will direct how funding and programs for prevention and treatment services are deployed throughout the county, ensuring the most impacted areas receive needed attention.
