Oregon

An overdose-reversal drug could become far more accessible in Oregon

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2023

An overdose-reversal drug could become far more accessible in Oregon

Lawmakers within the Oregon Home have overwhelmingly authorized a invoice to extra extensively distribute the life-saving medicine that reverses overdoses from fentanyl and different opioids.

With overdose deaths within the state exhibiting indicators they may proceed a steep years-long rise, Home Invoice 2395 handed by a vote of 48-9.

A invoice making its method by means of the Oregon Legislature seeks to make overdose-reversal kits much more accessible within the state.

Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB

The invoice, an amalgamation of a number of proposals launched in separate payments this yr, makes an attempt to handle the surge in deaths partially by growing entry to naloxone, the overdose-reversal medicine. Amongst its provisions, the invoice:

presents the chance for overdose-reversal kits to be made accessible in libraries, church buildings, and different buildings open to most of the people — and permits the Oregon Well being Authority to buy the drug in bulk as a way to assist that occur
permits regulation enforcement businesses, firefighters and emergency medical technicians to distribute naloxone kits to drug customers, members of the family of customers and others more likely to encounter an individual who’s overdosing on opioids.
permits lecturers or different educators to manage naloxone to a pupil who’s overdosing, granting felony and civil immunity in the event that they accomplish that.
decriminalizes testing tools meant to detect the presence of fentanyl
permits minors to obtain outpatient therapy for dependancy with out parental consent

The package deal was spearheaded by state Rep. Maxine Dexter, a Portland Democrat and significant care doctor who stated she steadily makes use of naloxone to revive sufferers whereas at work.

“When you’ve gotten seen somebody come again from being lifeless by giving this medicine, you don’t neglect how unbelievable it’s,” Dexter stated. “It is likely one of the first issues we use as a result of it’s protected to provide, works properly if the particular person has opioids of their system and can’t damage the affected person.”

On condition that security, Dexter says has joined officers across the nation who’re calling on the drug — often known as Narcan, a patented nasal spray model — to be made much more accessible to most of the people.

She discovered loads of settlement on Monday.

Republicans and Democrats have clashed on drug coverage at instances this legislative session, with many GOP members calling on their colleagues to repeal facets of Measure 110, the 2020 poll measure that decriminalized low-level drug possession. Democrats, who maintain majorities in each chambers, have declined to take these proposals severely.

However the far attain of the opioid disaster in Oregon has impacted members of each events. In line with the Oregon Well being Authority, unintentional overdoses from opioids have exploded alongside the growing availability of fentanyl — from 280 in 2019 to 745 in 2021. Final yr’s numbers haven’t been finalized, however the OHA has famous that the variety of overdose-related visits to emergency rooms and pressing care facilities rose over earlier years.

State Rep. James Hieb, R-Canby, misplaced his little brother to a fentanyl overdose in 2014.

“This introduced a lot grief that in the end extra deaths adopted in our household,” Hieb stated on the Home flooring. “Naloxone might have probably saved my brother.”

State Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, had each a cousin and an in depth household good friend who died from fentanyl.

“I can’t assist however suppose that perhaps in the event that they’d been with somebody with naloxone they’d be alive at this time,” he stated.

Diehl additionally shared the story of Braveness Minten, a younger man in his district, who died final yr after taking a counterfeit tablet that was laced with fentanyl. His household had inspired Diehl to share the story, he stated.

“Fentanyl isn’t just killing frequent drug customers,” Diehl stated. “Generally it’s children who merely make one unhealthy determination and pay for it with their lives.”

Democrats agreed. State Rep. Travis Nelson, a nurse from Portland, stated that whereas elevated use of naloxone just isn’t a “silver bullet” for the state’s dependancy disaster, “we will save numerous individuals by offering better entry.”

HB 2395 did face skepticism — even from lawmakers who professed that it might result in optimistic change. Some Republican members balked on the thought of accelerating entry to naloxone with out additionally taking steps to crack down on drug use.

Simply utilizing a hurt discount mannequin — that’s, an method to restrict the hurt brought on by drug use — amounted to “a give up to dependancy,” state Rep. Christine Goodwin, R-Canyonville stated.

State Rep. Werner Reschke, R-Klamath Falls, stated he would vote no “to place a flag down to indicate this physique we additionally must deal with onerous prevention” of drug use.

Ultimately, although, the opposition was muted. HB 2395 now strikes to the Senate.

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Oregon

3 things to watch as Iowa women’s basketball looks to stop skid at Oregon

Published

2 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

3 things to watch as Iowa women’s basketball looks to stop skid at Oregon

IOWA CITY — Following an uncharacteristic run of home struggles, the Big Ten schedule now takes Iowa women’s basketball as far away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena as possible in the league.

The Hawkeyes (12-6, 2-5 Big Ten Conference) are set to begin their first West Coast conference swing, beginning with Sunday’s 4 p.m. game at Oregon (13-5, 4-3) on BTN+. Iowa will then head to Washington next Wednesday for an 8 p.m. showdown. The Hawkeyes are desperately trying to end a four-game losing streak that suddenly has them flirting with the NCAA Tournament bubble.

With that, here are three things to watch ahead of Sunday’s showdown.

Can the Hawkeyes productively channel their desperation?

Everyone inside the program understands the current situation and how it needs to change. But the Hawkeyes can’t let that pressure generate more tight play on the court, an ongoing theme throughout this four-game losing streak.

“We really are just one or two possessions away,” assistant coach Sean Sullivan said Friday. “With a team like this who’s continuing to fight, we just need one win. We just need one to get going because these kids really do believe.

“Everyone knows their role. Everyone is supporting each other, and that’s the best thing you can do at this time during a four-game losing streak. We’re not going down that black hole. We see the light. We’ve just got to get there.”

Until revealed otherwise, expect another tense affair with plenty of late-game opportunities for Iowa to find a better conclusion. The Hawkeyes need to bring this one home.

How does Iowa handle Oregon’s full-court pressure while potentially leaning more on its own press?

Iowa had some trouble in December with pressing teams, most notably Tennessee and Michigan State, that resulted in heavy turnovers and late struggles. On the flipside, the Hawkeyes have implemented their own press, just sporadically, mainly in moments of desperation.

Iowa leaned on more pressure in Thursday’s loss to Nebraska with some success. Could Sunday be a moment to match the Ducks’ energy there?

“Oregon is going to be pretty intense with ball pressure. That’s not what we do, but we’re slowly doing a little bit more of a press,” Sullivan said “First we did a press break of some type of 2-2-1. Now we’re like, ‘OK, let’s change it up a bit. What do our players feel comfortable with?’ (Thursday) night, we had a lot of success. We’re starting to see what they’re good at.

“Now, we’ve just got to have fun with it. Let’s start doing some random things because when you do something consistently, it’s easy to scout. But when you start changing things up, Nebraska didn’t handle our pressure well. And that builds us confidence. So I think for the future, you’ll definitely start to see some more stuff.”

What does Iowa have in store for Ava Heiden in her Oregon homecoming?

Even as far back as media day, Ava Heiden’s excitement for the Oregon trip was apparent. Her hometown of Sherwood, Oregon, sits about 100 miles north of the Ducks’ campus, so expect a strong cheer for Heiden when Iowa takes the floor Sunday.

“Ava is so athletic,” Sullivan said. “She can jump out of the building. She can get rebounds. And that’s what we’ve got to start figuring out. How can we utilize her a little bit more too?

Heiden’s minutes have been up and down this year, more down lately as Hannah Stuelke has shifted back to the “5” position for more consistency. Heiden didn’t play against Nebraska but could certainly see more usage Sunday.

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.

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Oregon

Oregon gets more than $30 million from federal government to build overpass wildlife crossing on I-5

Published

10 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Oregon gets more than million from federal government to build overpass wildlife crossing on I-5

This undated artist’s rendering from the Oregon Department of Transportation shows the design of an overpass crossing for wildlife spanning above four lanes of traffic on I-5, looking southeast. ODOT is expected to begin construction on the crossing in 2028 in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, less than two miles north of the California border.

Oregon Department of Transportation

The Oregon Department of Transportation recently learned it will receive a $33 million grant from the federal government to build a wildlife crossing overpass on I-5 in Southern Oregon.

It will be the first overcrossing built to reduce wildlife and vehicle collisions along I-5, which spans nearly 1,400 miles from the Washington-Canada border to the California-Mexico border.

ODOT, which is providing nearly $4 million in matching funds for the project, removes about 6,000 deer carcasses struck by motorists each year in Oregon.

Wildlife corridors can not only prevent fatalities but also save motorists thousands of dollars in vehicle repairs – on average, $9,000 for a collision with a deer and $24,000 for elk, according to the agency.

In December 2024, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced it had received a $33 million federal grant to build the first overpass wildlife crossing on I-5. This undated photo shows the proposed location for the overpass which is expected to begin construction in 2028 in Southern Oregon, less than two miles north of the California border.
*Oregon Department of Transportation*

Karen Mager, an associate professor of environmental science, policy, and sustainability at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, has led a team of undergraduate students to set up camera traps and collect more than a million videos and photos of the diverse wildlife that live along the I-5 corridor south of Ashland, in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

“We have mountain lions, coyotes, bears, bobcats, Pacific fishers. We’re at the northern edge of the ringtail, which is this really cool kind of raccoon relative, and so we have a lot of diversity here,” she said.

The images Mager and her students captured were critical to identifying the future location of the overpass within the Mariposa Preserve of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, less than two miles from the California border.

The crossing will essentially be a wide bridge arching above the north and southbound lanes of the freeway, designed with natural features such as native vegetation and high walls to dampen the roar from traffic passing below while keeping animals safe.

This undated artist's rendering from the Oregon Department of Transportation shows the design of an overpass crossing for wildlife spanning above four lanes of traffic on I-5, looking southwest. ODOT is expected to begin construction on the crossing in 2028 in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, less than two miles north of the California border. — This undated artist’s rendering from the Oregon Department of Transportation shows the design of an overpass crossing for wildlife spanning above four lanes of traffic on I-5, looking southwest. ODOT is expected to begin construction on the crossing in 2028 in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, less than two miles north of the California border.
*Oregon Department of Transportation*

“The bridge itself is actually going to be connected to a couple miles of fencing to the north and to the south that help funnel animals towards the wildlife crossing. …. It’s got these jump outs on it so that if an animal accidentally ends up in the freeway, they can easily jump out to the safe side of the fence, but animals on the safe side of the fence won’t be able to easily get into the highway,” Mager said.

Construction of the wildlife crossing is expected to begin in early 2028.

“The overpass will be kind of an amazing, beautiful ‘Welcome to Oregon’ statement as you drive in from California, and it’s going to have artwork on it,” Mager said.

Karen Mager spoke to “Think Out Loud” host Dave Miller. Click play to listen to the full conversation:

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Oregon

Will No. 13 Oregon men’s basketball be able to slow down Braden Smith, No. 17 Purdue?

Published

17 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Will No. 13 Oregon men’s basketball be able to slow down Braden Smith, No. 17 Purdue?

EUGENE — By far Oregon’s biggest remaining home game this season, a top 20 clash with two-time reigning Big Ten champion Purdue carries significant stakes.

The No. 13 Ducks (15-2, 4-2 Big Ten) are ahead of the No. 17 Boilermakers in the polls, but behind them in the conference standings and NET entering Saturday’s game (12 p.m., NBC) at Matthew Knight Arena.

Both teams could use the Quadrant 1 win to improve their respective resumes come Selection Sunday, with Purdue (14-4, 6-1) arguably in bigger need of the road victory with all of its losses coming away from home. But as jockeying at the top of the Big Ten intensifies these are the matchups that will go a long way to determining the top four seeds in the conference tournament, which all receive double byes.

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