Emilene Valadez and Rene Miranda are speaking with their son at their home in Beaverton. Over the Christmas break, their 17-year-old son relapsed, falling back into cocaine use. He was honest with his parents, expressing his fear of dying. This relapse highlights the struggles families face with substance use disorder.
This story contains descriptions of substance use disorder and self-harm. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 for confidential support or visit 988lifeline.org. The Oregonian/OregonLive is shedding light on the barriers to quality mental health care in Oregon and exploring potential solutions.
The teen recovery series is taking 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. The Oregonian/OregonLive took the time to interview teens, parents, educators, and service providers to better understand the complexities of the system.
In their coverage, The Oregonian/OregonLive spent time with students at Harmony Academy Recovery High School, getting an inside look at their daily lives and struggles. The newsroom made the decision to not use the students’ full names to protect their privacy as minors. For more information on mental health coverage in Oregon, visit oregonlive.com/mentalhealth.
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