Oregon

Please be sure to read the data notes & limitations page. This explains many aspects of these comments, including how only changes over time can be discussed as statistically significant, and why the comparisons with national rates discuss data for selected subgroups.

Overview Findings

Data indicating changes for Oregon were limited to a few objectives and findings were mostly positive. Overall mortality decreased for younger and older adolescents, and for young adults; the suicide rate also decreased. However, mortality due to motor vehicle crashes decreased. Comparison to national mortality rates were mixed. Oregon rates of overall mortality for younger and older adolescents compared favorably to national rates for those groups. State and national rates were similar for overall mortality among young adults and for motor vehicle crash mortality. Oregon’s suicide rate was higher than the national rate. Data for other objectives were not available.

Highlights of Findings by Objective

Jump To: Mortality; Unintentional Injury; Violence; Substance Use and Mental Health;

Mortality

The rate of overall mortality in Oregon declined substantially from baseline for younger adolescents, older adolescents and young adults; rates decreased across all subgroups with available data. The rate for males showed a substantial decrease, while the decrease among females was smaller. In 2007, males had higher rates than females; this difference was more then two-fold among young adults.

Comparison with national data. As in Oregon, national mortality rates decreased for younger and older adolescents, although to a lesser extent than in Oregon. A small increase in young adult mortality nationally stands in contrast to a decrease among that group in Oregon. In 2007, the Oregon mortality rate for younger adolescents was similar to the national rate; Oregon’s mortality rates for older adolescents and young adults were lower than the national rates for those groups. As in Oregon, males had higher mortality rates than females.

Unintentional Injury

(motor vehicle crashes)

Adolescent mortality in Oregon due to motor vehicle crashes increased from baseline, due primarily to an increase among young adults; a large increase was seen among White males. In 2007, males had more than twice the rate of females.

Comparison with national data. National adolescent motor vehicle crash mortality overall was flat from baseline in contrast to the increase in Oregon. The 2007 rate in Oregon roughly matched the national rate. As in Oregon, males had more than twice the rate of females nationally.

Violence

(homicide)

Homicide rates were based on fewer than 20 deaths and thus were unsuitable for analyses.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

(suicide)

Overall suicide rates in Oregon decreased slightly among older adolescents. Rates for all subgroups were based on fewer than 20 deaths and thus were unsuitable for analyses.

Comparison with national data. The national adolescent suicide rate was flat, changed little from baseline, in contrast to a small decline in Oregon. In 2007, the suicide rate in Oregon was slightly higher than the national rate.

Additional data may be available at: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/ah/datasources.shtml