News & Stories for Oregonians
Column by Ebony Clarke, Behavioral Health Director, OHA At Oregon Health Authority (OHA), we recognize that recovery is not just an individual journey—it is a community commitment. Recovery means hope. It means the opportunity to rebuild, reconnect, and reclaim one’s life with dignity and support. As we reflect during Recovery Month, we reaffirm our belief […]
Funding opportunities and shifts in public perception pay off in Southwest Oregon, making SUD treatment and recovery more possible than ever. > On a cool cloudy day in March 2024, Casey Lowery sprinted nearly four miles to get to Bay Area First Step—a recovery and treatment center in Coos Bay, a small coastal community in […]
A year and a half ago, Melanie McKibbin decided to change jobs so she could share the hope she’d found in recovery with people experiencing homelessness and a cycle of substance abuse. As a peer support specialist with Albany-based CHANCE Recovery, McKibbin now helps others secure emergency and permanent housing so they can focus on […]
In one Portland neighborhood, new hope is dawning for hundreds of people seeking treatment for addiction. Recovery Works Northwest recently cut the ribbon on the state’s first alcohol and drug withdrawal (detox) management facility made possible with Measure 110 funding. The 16-bed facility in Southeast Portland will be the first of its kind to serve […]
The Omicron surge has passed. COVID-19 has receded. Because Oregonians got vaccinated, wore masks, and limited indoor gatherings more than people did in most other places, the state has fared better than much of the US: Lives saved: Actions Oregonians took to prevent the spread of COVID-19 saved an estimate of nearly 5,800 lives. Cases: […]
Governor Kate Brown was joined by OHA Director Patrick Allen and State Epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger to discuss Oregon’s progress towards the statewide vaccination goal and imminent reopening. Here’s what you need to know. Oregon nearing 70% vaccination goal Governor Brown proudly announced that Oregon — after more than 15 months battling the pandemic — […]