PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Officials from Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties came together today to address the harms excessive drinking has on health and community.
2,500 Oregonians die every year due to excessive alcohol use, officials said.
One in five adults in Oregon drinks in excess. One provider says a majority of those people don’t realize that they are doing it.
“It’s not something that is causing what we would consider needing treatment for, it’s just heavy drinking that impacts health, that impacts long term as well as short term spites,” said Clair Raujol, Behavioral Health Supervisor for Multnomah County.
Today’s ‘Sip Smarter’ event looked at consequences ranging from unintended injuries and deaths to health problems tied to drinking.
The event included a community discussion about these impacts and what can be done to address them.