The new programs to treat drug users will look different across Oregon counties as law enforcement officials and outreach providers map out local strategies with limited resources.
Community & Public Health
As they cultivate gardens, seniors in Sacramento find a renewed sense of purpose. Sharon Chandler is one such senior who introduces the love of gardening to residents of the Delta Cove senior apartment complex in South Sacramento. The initiative fosters social interaction, encourages healthier eating habits and induces gardeners to incorporate home-grown produce into their diets.
As record-breaking temperatures melt California this summer, medical professionals are sounding the alarm about the added risks extreme heat poses to people with diabetes. But one bakery in Imperial County has some solutions.
The vending machines hold harm-reduction supplies such as strips to test for fentanyl, nasal naloxone, pouches to deactivate medications, and tests to detect the dangerous combination of fentanyl and xylazine.
Farmworkers face health risks from pesticide exposure. Weak regulations and fear of retaliation leave many unprotected, as employers prioritize profits over worker safety.
"Learning to use sensitivity and trauma-informed approaches with my subjects became paramount," writers reporter Robert Hansen.
Sevety-four-year-old Cha Seung-pyo volunteers at the LA Korean Community Center everyday from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. On average, he assists 20 individuals daily with their various needs. Volunteering has given Cha a sense of purpose and helps stave off loneliness and isolation.
Research indicates that women tend to become dependent on substances, including fentanyl, more quickly, and take longer to seek help due to gender roles. Fentanyl use has skyrocketed in recent years, even among pregnant women. In the Tenderloin district of the San Francisco, Bay Area, reporter Dayanna Monroy talks to pregnant women who struggle with addiction.
Young adults 18 to 24 years old who are aging out of the foster care system face the risk of housing instability and homelessness. One in five foster youth become unhoused upon turning 18. Young Asians are further hampered because they are not seen as needing support. This is the story of a twenty-one year old Korean American woman who faced innumerable challenges in finding a stable home after leaving foster care.
The Lake Burien campus will reopen as a 24-hour care facility for youths with neurodevelopmental conditions, focusing on voluntary, specialized care to bridge gaps in Washington’s support system.