OREGON DRUG DEATHS FALL; HEROIN TAKES HIGHEST TOLL

PORTLAND (AP) -- Heroin continued to be the leading cause of drug-related
deaths in Oregon last year, although such deaths overall were down 15
percent from the previous year.

Methamphetamine-related deaths, however, were up 30 percent, according to
the Oregon state medical examiner's annual report on drug-related deaths,
to be released Monday.

In 2000, 209 people died from drug-related causes -- down from 246 in 1999.

There were 130 heroin-related deaths, a decrease from 195 the previous year.

Fifty-six people died from methamphetamine-related causes, up from 43 the
year before. Most lived in the three-county Portland metropolitan area and
in Lane, Marion and Deschutes counties, the report states.

Ed Blackburn, director of chemical dependency services for Central City
Concern, a Portland rehabilitation center, said an on-the-street
drug-awareness campaign by the Recovery Association Project contributed to
the drop in heroin deaths.

"It changed the way we're dealing with it," he said. "The same attention
and focus has not been put on the deaths related to other drugs."

The jump in methamphetamine-related deaths means the drug -- considered by
many in law enforcement to be the most pervasive illicit substance in
Oregon -- has found a growing base of users.

"Heroin is the one we see most often because it's the most deadly drug,"
said Dr. Karen Gunson, state medical examiner. "But with meth there are
just so many more people using it it's bound to catch up."

While the overall numbers are down slightly, Gunson said there's nothing to
cheer about.

"It's still the fourth-highest year," she said. "As far as taking a big
bite out of drug overdose deaths, we're not."