Pubdate: Fri, 25 Apr 2014
Source: Mail Tribune, The (Medford, OR)
Copyright: 2014 The Mail Tribune
Contact:  http://www.mailtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/642
Note: Only prints LTEs from within it's circulation area, 200 word count limit
Author: Ryan Pfeil, Mail Tribune

ELEVEN DRUG DEATHS PUT COUNTY IN TOP FIVE

Even With Jackson County Overdoses Declining From 2012, Last Year's
Tally Ranked County Fifth In Oregon

Eleven people died of drug overdoses in Jackson County in 2013, down
from 19 the previous year, but still enough to put the county in the
top five statewide for drug-related deaths, a report from the state
medical examiner shows.

The number of drug deaths was the second highest in the county since
2002, the report said.

The agency's findings, released Thursday, show seven deaths were
heroin-related, five deaths were linked to methamphetamine and two
deaths involved a combination of substances. The number of heroin
deaths was the fourth highest in the state.

Nearby Josephine County saw four drug deaths, with three tied to
methamphetamine and one to heroin. Klamath County had two, both
related to methamphetamine.

Only Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, and Lane counties recorded more
drug-related deaths in 2013 than Jackson County.

Statewide, there were 222 drug-related deaths, nearly unchanged from
the 223 reported in 2012. Of that number, 123 were
methamphetamine-related, a 32 percent boost from the 93 in 2012, and
the most recorded since 2000.

"More than 55 percent of all drug-related deaths were associated with
methamphetamine use," a release from the state medical examiner said.

There were 111 heroin-related deaths in Oregon, a dip of 25 percent
from 2012's reported 147. For 2013, 65 heroin-related deaths occurred
in Multnomah County.

Statewide, cocaine-related deaths were at their lowest in the 13-year
period covered by the report with 12 reported. That's a 36 percent dip
from 2012's 19. Only Multnomah, Lincoln, Malheur and Yamhill counties
reported cocaine-related deaths. All other counties had none.

The medical examiner's office said there were 150 deaths related to
methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone overdoses in Oregon, with 58, 60
and 32 deaths reported respectively. Methadone and oxycodone deaths
dropped from the respective 78 and 66 reported in 2012, with
hydrocodone deaths increasing from 26 in 2012.

Deaths from those prescription drugs weren't broken down by county in
the state report.
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