During the holiday break, Emilene Valadez and Rene Miranda sat down with their 17-year-old son to discuss his recent relapse into cocaine use. Their son was honest with them about his fears of dying and the struggles that come with substance use disorder. This incident highlights the challenges that families face when dealing with addiction.
The Oregonian/OregonLive is shedding light on the barriers to quality mental health care in Oregon and exploring potential solutions. In a series of articles, the publication takes an in-depth look at how Oregon’s youth behavioral health system compares to other states and the challenges parents face in keeping their children safe.
To better understand the complexities of the system, The Oregonian/OregonLive interviewed teens, parents, educators, and service providers. The newsroom also spent time at Harmony Academy Recovery High School, getting an inside look at the daily lives and struggles of students recovering from addiction. To protect their privacy as minors, the newsroom chose not to use the students’ full names. For more information on mental health coverage in Oregon, visit oregonlive.com/mentalhealth.
