Don't miss this excellent piece of clear reporting and writing from Elizabeth Yost. She, Brent Walth Catalyst played key roles in this project, and the public is better for it.

On the eve of a state decision on the merger of CareOregon with California-based SCAN, OR Health Authority ex-director Pat Allen is coming out against it. Proponents say it'll lower costs and help them compete, but Allen cites risks to local control: thelundreport.org/content/careor…

Oregon law is clear: districts must have a robust substance-use prevention program backed by up-to-date science. But that is easier said than done, journalist Lillian Mongeau Hughes found when she spoke with administrators around the state: thelundreport.org/content/school…

Youth addiction prevention in Oregon gets little help from state: “Over the last two years, the Oregon Legislature has invested over $1 billion into Oregon’s behavioral health system” but included “almost no new funding” for substance use prevention. thelundreport.org/content/youth-…

Oregon has a massive gap between Oregonians' needs and the treatment beds it has, an outside consultant has found. Emily Green breaks it down: thelundreport.org/content/oregon…

In Oregon, where the state gives schools scant support in adopting addiction prevention programs, we found parents and teachers are catalyzing robust prevention in some districts. thelundreport.org/content/oregon…

Measure 110 is getting the attention, but there's other weighty issues involving health care teed up for lawmakers in the five-week session that just kicked off in Salem. @jakethomas2009 lays it all out: thelundreport.org/content/oregon…

This story by Julia Silverman is an emotional gut-punch to read, but so important. "Again, she says, she pleaded with a hospital social worker for help, looking for any loophole to get him into treatment." #orleg oregonlive.com/health/2024/02…

Lies, damned lies — and Measure 110 statistics? Both sides of Oregon’s drug decriminalization debate are citing statistics to draw opposite conclusions, sometimes irresponsibly. thelundreport.org/content/lies-d…

An extremely thorough analysis of the debates around M110 and the well funded spin machines around it.

House Bill 4130 seeks to shield Oregon from the rapid expansion of private equity and other large corporations into health care. thelundreport.org/content/bill-c…

Words matter. AP recommends journalists avoid words like "addict" and "drug abuser." Using stigmatizing language in journalism to describe people and their appearance when they're struggling with addiction 'others' people, and it's irresponsible. slate.com/technology/201…

Breaking news: CareOregon and SCAN have withdrawn their application to combine, citing 'questions' raised. Opponents argued transferring control of $1 billion in reserves to California would undermine local control of Oregon #Medicaid spending: thelundreport.org/content/careor…

This is a must-read for anyone following Oregon's mental health treatment efforts. From Christian Wihtol:

Yesterday was my last day @thelundreport. I'm lucky to have worked with such a stellar team – Nick Budnick, @jakethomas2009, Kim Crosby & Christian Wihtol. I'm excited about what's next, but I'm also going to miss the heck out of them! And I'm sure the best of TLR is yet to come.

We’re going to miss Emily Green terribly as both a kickass journalist and person. We had a little party for her Thursday, with The Lund Report founder Diane Lund-Muzikant and co-chair Joanne Zuhl joining the team to toast her & her well-deserved award. 1/

Lawmakers have approved roughly $27 million to fund youth prevention and recovery programs as well as support for families with young children. From @jakethomas2009: thelundreport.org/content/legisl…

We're proud to share that @Greenwrites, Elizabeth Yost Lillian Mongeau Hughes The Lund Report Catalyst are finalists in the Nonprofit News Awards for our spotlight on OR schools' failure to provide quality prevention to kids: inn.org/news/compulsiv…