The cross-country drive on the National Medal of Honor Highway (U.S. Highway 20), the longest continuous highway in the United States, stretching over 3,000 miles from Newport, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts, aims to raise awareness about the high rates of suicide and PTSD among veterans and to highlight available resources for prevention and support.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has released its annual report on physician assisted suicide under the so called "Death with dignity Act (DWDA)", which shows an almost 30% increase in the number of prescriptions written for lethal doses of medication under the Act in 2023.
The DWDA was a citizens' initiative passed twice by Oregon voters. The first time was in a general election in November 1994 when it passed by a margin of 51% to 49%. An injunction delayed implementation of the Act until it was lifted on October 27, 1997. In November 1997, a measure was placed on the general election ballot to repeal the DWDA. Voters chose to retain the DWDA by a margin of 60% to 40%.
