VIDEO – END OF THE TRAIL? –

Jan. 27, 2022 – “The state decided to promote alcohol consumption in order to generate more revenue when in fact, that was the last thing that should happen during the pandemic,” Marshall says.

Between 2019 and 2020, alcohol related deaths increased by 73 percent and drug overdoses by 39 percent. On top of that, the report shows Oregon is the worst in the country when it comes to treatment.

“The fact that people are waiting 4, 5, and 6 weeks to get into treatment and access to treatment continues to go down is just completely unnecessary,” Marshall says. Things aren’t expected to improve right away either. Preliminary data from the first six month of 2021 suggests addiction related deaths in the second year of the pandemic will outpace the first year.

more@KPTV