Why some Oregon communities have high rates of alcohol-related deaths among older adults

Oregon communities have some of the nation’s highest rates of alcohol-related deaths among adults age 65 and older. That’s according to a new study conducted by the Woodlands Grove Recovery Campus in Ohio. It used CDC data from 2020 through 2024 to rank metro areas by both alcohol-induced death rates and total number of deaths. 

Of the top 15 cities with the highest rates, six were in Oregon. Roseburg ranked second, Eugene-Springfield fourth and Medford fifth. Salem, Bend and the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area also appeared in the top 15.

Tom Jeanne is the deputy state health officer and an epidemiologist at the Oregon Health Authority. He joins us to talk about the dangers drinking can pose to older adults and what the state is doing to reduce alcohol-related deaths.

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