Cutline: Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen spoke Sept. 5 during a virtual meeting with behavioral health providers, advocates and others about Oregon State Hospital. The hospital has new limits it must follow for how long it can treat patients who face criminal charges.
Critics say a court order that limits how long some patients can be treated at Oregon State Hospital could hurt public safety and put people on the street without care.
Tera Hurst, of the Oregon Health Justice Recovery Alliance, said thousands more people are already getting help and that “transformational change” takes time.
A study of rural drug users in 10 states found the combination fuels heightened overdose risk, but many programs are not equipped to treat people who are using both drugs.
Despite a windfall of new funding that could combat Oregon’s meth-fueled behavioral health crisis, leaders have no plan and risk leaving promising approaches on the shelf.