Oregon Capital Chronicle

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Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, on Nov. 21, 2023. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT

Oregon State Hospital suspends in-person visits after patient dies of suspected fentanyl overdose

The psychiatric program's interim director emailed staff citing a ‘significant incident’ involving contraband, but did not mention the patient's death

May 27, 2024

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SHUTTERSTOCK

More Oregon students are missing vaccines, worrying health officials

Oregon had the second highest nonmedical exemption rate in the country in the last school year — after only Idaho — and the rate of kindergartners with a nonmedical exemption has been going up

May 23, 2024

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MIKE MOZART/CREATIVE COMMONS

State board allocates nearly $14 million for addiction prevention

The money is part of $600 million in opioid settlement funds the state is expected to receive over the next two decades

May 16, 2024

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UNSPLASH

Still much unknown on how marijuana policies would change in states under Biden plan

Until they have more details, state regulators cannot do much, according to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, even as Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden proposes descheduling marijuana altogether

May 14, 2024

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An authentic 30mg oxycodone pill, left, compared to a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl, in this image from the DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” campaign. | COURTESY U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

Fentanyl awareness campaigns kick off in Oregon amid an overdose epidemic

The web-based and social media campaigns aim to educate youth, families and adults about the dangers of fentanyl and risk of overdose deaths and addiction

May 8, 2024

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Ebony Clarke, health director for Multnomah County, is moving to the state of Oregon to head its behavioral health division. | COURTESY MULTNOMAH COUNTY

Oregon behavioral health director pushes workers to hold agency accountable

Nearly 900 gather at Seaside conference for behavioral health peer workers, professionals who have their own experience with mental health issues

May 7, 2024

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The Oregon Department of Human Services is in Salem. | MICHAEL ROMANOS/OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE

Former state caregiver sentenced to 25 years of prison for sexual assault of disabled woman

The state agency’s Stabilization and Crisis Unit operates 24-hour residential programs in Oregon for people with developmental disabilities, including some experiencing mental health issues

May 2, 2024

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LYNNE TERRY/OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE

More people buy private health insurance plans as thousands lose Medicaid coverage

They represent a small fraction of the tens of thousands of people who’ve lost free Medicaid benefits since last April

Apr 18, 2024

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U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas. | COURTESY OF ANDREA SALINAS

U.S. Rep. Salinas backs legislation to increase, expand mental health care in public schools

The first-term U.S. representative from Oregon is co-sponsoring a bill that would allocate $300 million nationwide to put more mental health services in public schools

Apr 16, 2024

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Nurses at Legacy Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. | LYNNE TERRY/THE LUND REPORT

As demand for nurses rises, OHSU expands nursing program to central Oregon

Central Oregon will be the third spot for OHSU’s accelerated bachelor’s degree in nursing, which already is available in Portland and Ashland

Apr 11, 2024