How Multnomah County overdose deaths are trending amid nationwide decrease

After years of steep increases, overdose death rates appear to be dropping nationwide. Data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a 10% decrease in the number of deaths from drug overdoses across the country from April 2023 to April 2024. That number varies significantly by state — while many Eastern states saw double-digit decreases, Oregon saw a 22% increase over that 12-month period.

Still, some local health officials say they’re cautiously optimistic. Teresa Everson is the deputy health officer for Multnomah County. She joins us to talk about what overdose death numbers look like in the county and what they could tell us about the ongoing drug crisis.