PORTLAND, Ore. — A recent report from Multnomah County illustrates a troubling milestone in the ongoing fentanyl crisis, revealing that a record number of homeless individuals lost their lives in the area last year. This report, published on Friday, highlights the profound impact of fentanyl on the local population, particularly in the context of Portland.
The data indicate that in 2023, the county recorded 456 deaths among homeless individuals, marking the highest figure ever documented and representing a staggering 45% increase from the previous year. Of those fatalities, 282 were attributed to unintentional drug overdoses, which more than doubled since 2022; fentanyl was involved in an alarming 89% of these overdose deaths.
The report suggests that this rise in fentanyl-related fatalities among the homeless population is part of a broader national trend and highlights the disturbing proliferation of the drug from the East Coast to the western regions of the United States. Since 2017, when fentanyl was linked to just one homeless death in the county, that figure has surged to 251 in 2023.
Jessica Vega Pederson, chair of Multnomah County, expressed deep concern over the findings, stating that the report starkly illustrates the toll fentanyl has taken on the community. She emphasized the need for the community to come together to mourn the losses experienced by over 450 families last year, while also advocating for improved access to behavioral health services, supportive housing, and other crucial resources.
Additionally, the report revealed that methamphetamine played a role in 81% of the overdose deaths among the homeless population in 2023. Richard Bruno, the county’s health officer, reflected on the personal impact of the report, noting that many of the deceased were individuals he had treated in his clinic. Despite the grim statistics, he remained hopeful that the future would bring better outcomes, particularly following a local and state declaration of emergency aimed at combatting the fentanyl crisis. He expressed optimism that 2024 would show a decrease in fentanyl overdose deaths.
The report also documented that 14 deaths were categorized as homicides, while 26 were ruled as suicides. Transportation-related incidents caused 22 deaths, indicating that homeless people were 58 times more likely to die from such injuries compared to the general population of the county. Notably, there were no fatalities due to heat exposure, and only one was attributed to cold exposure.
The average age at which individuals died was 46 years, significantly lower than the national life expectancy at birth, which stands at approximately 76 years. This stark disparity raises further questions about the challenges facing the homeless community and the urgent need for systemic changes.
