SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has declared addiction a public health crisis in the state.
Brown on Tuesday announced an executive order setting a deadline for the state Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to develop a statewide plan to combat the problem, with intermediary deadlines as early as September. The plan would lay out steps for state agencies to ease access to recovery, treatment and prevention services.
“I am declaring substance abuse to be a public health crisis in Oregon,” Brown said to a crowd of about a hundred gathered on the Capitol steps.
The announcement came as separate opioid legislation makes its way through the Legislature, which would require the state to study how to improve access to treatment and doctors to register with a statewide prescription-monitoring system.
It was unclear when the order would be signed.
