Tera Hurst is with the Health Justice Recovery Alliance, the group working to implement 110.  She says the initial $30 million investment is already helping.  “More people are alive in Marion and Lane county today because the HIV Alliance used Measure 110 funds to directly reverse over 500 overdoses. Bridges to Change, who was about to close their doors in Wasco County due to the pandemic, was able to save their recovery house and expand their presence in The Dalles,” said Hurst.

 

The Oregon Health Authority admits options, right now, are inconsistent across the state but another $265 million is now going to providers in all 36 counties to help build treatment infrastructure like recovery houses and medical facilities. “This kind of money is about five times what we’ve spent previously on non-Medicaid services, so this will have a huge impact on our state. We have to give it time, and our providers time, to really set up this infrastructure; buy the houses and the furniture and everything else that needs to happen,” Hurst said.