News & Stories for Oregonians
Available in Spanish Funding from Measure 110 has allowed Bay Area First Step, Inc., an organization offering substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services, to expand and improve how it works with clients. Located in Coos County, Bay Area First Step (BAFS) is entirely peer-run, providing person-centered outpatient treatment programs, recovery housing and recovery support services. […]
This week we reported a 10.4% test positivity rate for COVID-19, which indicates ongoing high community transmission in Oregon, based on data reported to health officials during the week ending Jan. 6. “The continued high amount of spread of COVID-19 in Oregon is made clear to us in the fact that many of us have […]
Available in Spanish Access to health care through Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid) continues to grow and improve through a number of changes to OHP policy. Some of these changes took effect in 2023, and others take effect this month or later in 2024. OHP benefits that took effect in 2023 that you may not know […]
Available in Spanish If you love to decorate and exchange gifts during the holidays, don’t forget to consider safety, especially with children. “The holidays can be a really exciting time for kids with gifts and new toys to play with,” said Ben Hoffman, M.D., professor of pediatrics and medical director of the Tom Sargent Safety Center at OHSU Doernbecher […]
It’s the season for long, dark days. In Oregon, those days are longer and darker than many places in the United States. Today, Dec. 21, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Across Oregon, on average, we will enjoy just under nine hours of daylight today. That’s about seven hours less […]
Available in Spanish Oregon law provides legal protection to anyone helping someone experiencing a drug overdose. If you call 911 or seek medical care when you witness someone overdosing, the law says you and the patient cannot be arrested or prosecuted for: Oregon law also provides legal protections for administering the opioid overdose reversal medication […]
Over the past four years, we’ve heard how cleaning and disinfecting is a good precaution to lower the risk of spreading viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. But if not used properly, chemicals found in cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products can harm our health. Children are particularly vulnerable because they’re more sensitive to harmful chemicals. […]
Updated Nov. 25, 2024, to reflect adjusted details for the Senior Loneliness Line of Oregon. Available in Spanish This article contains notes from Oregon Health News readers who responded to our survey about how they cope with loneliness. OHA warmly thanks everyone who generously wrote in. We’ve included many of your thoughtful responses throughout this […]
Available in Spanish When someone struggling with drug use reaches out for help, there’s a chance they’ll never get that help if they are unhoused. Often there are waiting lists for residential treatment services, and by the time a space opens up, the person may have changed their mind, disappeared with no contact information, or […]
Available in Spanish Updated March 5, 2024 – On February 28, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended people ages 65+ receive an additional dose of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after receiving their first dose of the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine. The next round of COVID-19 vaccines is here, and […]
