Oregon… State inaction left Oregon teens vulnerable to fentanyl… deaths…
As a result of state officials’ long-standing failure to respond to… fentanyl – the potent opioid that’s driving the skyrocketing death toll – has dealt Oregon a particularly devastating blow.
Among the provisions in the pending bill specifically aimed at young Oregonians are easing restrictions on distribution of naloxone in schools, decriminalization of fentanyl testing strips, and allowing minors to get outpatient drug treatment without parental consent. (The bill passed the House 48-9 on March 6, 2023.) “Through a coordinated effort with the Oregon Department of Education, OHA (Oregon Health Authority) is supporting districts to stock naloxone and train school staff to use it in the event of an emergency,” Tim Heider (spokesman for OHA) says, although Heider notes neither agency currently has the authority to require schools to stock the anti-overdose medication.
Original Article (Willamette Week):
We asked Oregon leaders what they’ll do to reduce teenage fentanyl deaths & State inaction left Oregon teens vulnerable to fentanyl’s lethal spread
Artwork Fair Use: M.O. Stevens