National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Since 1971, a national survey on drug use and health (NSDUH) has been conducted in each of the United States' 50 states (U.S.). The survey's primary goals are to provide accurate data on the level and patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal substance use and abuse; to track trends in the use of alcohol, tobacco, and various types of drugs; to assess the consequences of substance use and abuse, and to identify those groups at high risk for substance abuse.

Oregon is one of the 50 states where the NSDUH is administered. It is the ninth-largest state in the United States. It is 98,380 square miles in size and shares borders with Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, and the Pacific Ocean. Many Native American tribes call it home.

The following facts are relevant to drug, alcohol, and substance addiction numbers, statistics, and trends in Oregon:

• Portland, Oregon has the most breweries of any city in the world. It has over 60 breweries within its city limits! 
• A drink can only be shared by two people in Stanfield. 
• Oregon was the first state in the United States to decriminalize marijuana in 1973, and it was also one of the first to legalize recreational marijuana in 2014.
• The state of Oregon also has more strip clubs than any other state in the country, with Portland having the most per capita of any city in the country.
• Oregon was the first state in the United States to legalize physician-assisted suicide. That was back in 1994. As a result, the state's suicide rates are among the highest in the country.

Here’re the addiction numbers, stats, and trends Oregon is known for!

1. Addiction numbers

According to federal data based on the most recent NSDUH, Oregon has the second-highest addiction rate in the country, with nearly one in every five teens and adults reporting a drug or alcohol problem. According to the survey, 9% of the state's teens and adults are addicts.

Approximately 12% of the state's population aged 12 and up reported having an alcohol problem, a 5% increase from the previous survey period. This demonstrates alcoholism is on the rise in Oregon.

The survey also established that 18 percent of teens and adults were unable to obtain addiction treatment, a 50 percent increase from the previous survey period. This illustrates the inability to obtain addiction treatment is becoming a growing issue in Oregon.

According to reliable sources, nearly 700 people in Oregon will die from a drug overdose in 2020, a 30 percent increase from the numbers reported in 2019. In order to comply with the COVID-19 social distancing rules, residential treatment programs such as the Portland alcohol addiction treatment center were forced to accept fewer addiction patients in 2020.

According to alcohol rehab Portland Oregon professionals, the year 2020 will see a significant increase in Oregon's addiction numbers because many people who were isolated at home frequently turned to drugs and alcohol. The unfortunate part of Oregon's addiction story is the state spends less than 1% of its total budget on addiction prevention.

1. Addiction stats

The State of Oregon was ranked as follows in terms of percentage population (teens and adults) during the reporting period in the NSDUH December 2021 Report covering the 2019 to 2020 reporting period:

• The state ranked first in the prevalence of illicit drug use disorder, with 9.04 percent of the population having an illicit drug use disorder. 
• Alcohol use disorder affected 34% of the population, ranking the state fifth in terms of prevalence. 
• The state ranked second in the prevalence of substance use disorders, with 22 percent of the population having substance use disorders.
• The state ranks 50th or last in terms of the population needing but not receiving treatment for SUDs, with 18.08 percent of the population needing but not receiving treatment. 
• In terms of the prevalence of any mental illness and serious mental illness, 27.33 percent of the population had any mental illness and 7.15 percent had a serious mental illness, ranking the state second and third, respectively. 
• Only 20.01 percent of the 27.33 percent of the population with any mental illness received mental health services.
• In the month preceding the survey, 21.17 percent of the population used illicit drugs, ranking the state second in terms of the population using illicit drugs in the month preceding the survey. 
• During the survey period, 27.82 percent of the population used marijuana, ranking the state second in terms of teen and adult marijuana use. 
• The state ranked second in terms of teens and adults using marijuana in the month preceding the survey, with 19.26 percent of the population using marijuana in the month preceding the survey. 
• In the month preceding the survey, 4.25% of the population used illicit drugs other than marijuana, ranking the state third in terms of teens and adults using illicit drugs other than marijuana.
• During the survey period, 0.56 percent of the population used heroin, ranking the state 11th in teen and adult heroin use.
• During the survey period, 2.37 percent of the population used cocaine, ranking the state seventh in teen and adult cocaine use. 
• During the survey period, 56.34% of the population used alcohol, ranking the state 10th in terms of teen and adult alcohol use. 
• During the survey period, 6.80 percent of the population had serious suicidal thoughts, ranking the state second in teens and adults having serious suicidal thoughts.
• During the survey period, 1.43 percent of the population had made suicidal plans, ranking the state 25th in terms of teens and adults who had made suicidal plans. 
• During the survey period, 0.54 percent of the population attempted suicide, ranking the state 21st in teen and adult suicide attempts. 
• The state ranked 31st in terms of teens and adults who used cigarettes in the month preceding the survey, with 15.60% of the population using cigarettes in the month preceding the survey.
• During the survey period, 9.84 percent of the population experienced major depressive episodes, ranking the state fifth in terms of teens and adults experiencing major depressive episodes. 
• During the survey period, 1.93 percent of the population used methamphetamine, ranking the state first in terms of teen and adult use. 

During the survey period, 4.46 percent of the population misused prescription opioids, ranking the state first in terms of teens and adults using prescription opioids. 

1. Addiction trends

Oregon has persistently been ranked among the top ten states for rates of drug use in several categories, including:

• Past month illicit drug use among people aged 12 and older.
• Past month illicit drug use among young adults age 18-25.
• Past month marijuana use among persons age 12 and older.
• Past month illicit use of drugs other than marijuana among people aged 12 or older.
• Past month cocaine use among persons age 12-17.
• Past year non-medical use of pain relievers among people aged 12 and older.
• Illicit drug dependence among people aged 12 and older.

Drug-related deaths are on the rise in Oregon, with rates exceeding the national average. As evidenced by the drug rehab in Hillsboro, marijuana use dominates substance abuse treatment admissions in Oregon. Marijuana use has been increasing in Oregon. It has increased from 8.88 percent during the 2002–2003 NSDUH survey period to 19.26 percent during the 2019–2022 survey period. Prescription drug abuse is also rising in the state, as is drugged driving.

Overall, Oregon's addiction problem is on the rise, which is why facilities like Alcohol Rehab Portland, Oregon have increased their efforts to increase access to addiction treatment. You should not be discouraged because you are an addict. Begin your addiction recovery journey by searching the Internet for "drug addiction treatment centers near me."

Help to find a drug and alcohol rehab near me

If you need assistance in finding the best drug and alcohol rehab to help you to take your next steps toward addiction recovery, reach out to Another Chance at (971) 272-8968 or via email at info@anotherchancerehab.com and they’ll help you.