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Latest Oregon Report Shows Sobering Statistics on Assisted Suicide

Apr 6, 2026Jerry CoxEuthanasia and Assisted SuicideAssisted Suicide, Euthanasia, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

Oregon’s 2025 “Death with Dignity Act” report shows a staggering number of people ended their lives under the state’s assisted suicide law last year.

In 1997, Oregon became the first state in America to legalize physician-assisted suicide, and since then policymakers have worked to make it easier for people to receive a prescription for lethal drugs.

Family Council has written repeatedly about the problems with Oregon’s assisted suicide law over the years.

Oregon’s 2025 reports show that a record 637 lethal prescriptions for assisted suicide were written last year.

Of the people who ended their lives in Oregon, most did not indicate they were concerned about managing their pain in the face of a terminal illness.

Instead, loss of autonomy, being less able to engage in activities that make life enjoyable, and loss of dignity were the reasons most people cited for requesting a lethal prescription.

Only two people were referred for psychiatric evaluation last year before ending their lives.

Nearly 40% said they were concerned about being a burden to family, friends, or caregivers, and more than one in 20 people (6%) who opted for assisted suicide in Oregon last year said they were concerned about the financial implications of medical treatment. That’s deeply concerning.

Patients who are lonely and feel like they are losing control over their lives need counseling and support — not a deadly prescription.

Experience has shown that assisted suicide doesn’t help people who are sick or dying, and it doesn’t remain limited to a few cases.

In the U.S., insurance companies have refused to pay for patients’ medical care, but have offered to cover assisted suicide drugs.

Patients in Europe and Canada reportedly have been denied care or actively euthanized as a result of assisted suicide laws.

Stories like these are part of the reason why Family Council has strongly opposed assisted suicide legislation in Arkansas.

Being pro-life means believing innocent human life is sacred from conception until natural death.

Just like abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide violate the sanctity of innocent human life.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Colorado’s “Conversion Therapy” Ban

Apr 6, 2026Jerry CoxLGBTFree Speech, LGBT, Religious Freedom, Religious Liberty, Transgender

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court overwhelmingly ruled against a Colorado law censoring counselors who work with people suffering from gender dysphoria.

In 2019, Colorado enacted a law prohibiting licensed counselors from engaging in “conversion therapy.” Under that law, counselors are free to engage in pro-LGBT counseling, but they cannot help people who want to overcome their same-sex attraction or gender confusion.

In an 8-1 opinion delivered last Tuesday, the Court held that Colorado’s law against so-called “conversion therapy” violates the First Amendment.

This is good news. Over the years, many states have passed laws like Colorado’s infringing free speech and the free exercise of religion among licensed healthcare professionals.

Many people want counselors to help them overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, and many medical experts — like the American College of Pediatricians and the HHS — believe that encouraging a child to disagree with his or her biological sex is harmful.

In Arkansas, multiple “conversion therapy” bans have been filed at the Capitol over the years, but none have passed. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in this case shows that Arkansas’ lawmakers were right not to enact these flawed measures.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Commandments in Court, Sportsbooks Sued, and More from This Week

Apr 3, 2026Jerry CoxCurrent EventsUpdate, Weekly Rewind

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Here’s a quick recap of the week’s top stories from Family Council and our friends:

From Family Council

Federal Judge Rules Against Ten Commandments Monument on Capitol Grounds: On Tuesday, Chief U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker ruled against Arkansas’ monument of the Ten Commandments. The decision orders the Secretary of State to remove the monument if the Arkansas Attorney General fails to appeal the ruling to a higher court. Keep Reading.

Arkansas State Police Lead Gulf Coast HIDTA in Highway Drug Seizures: Arkansas State Police (ASP) Troopers seized record amounts of illegal narcotics in 2025, leading all agencies in the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) region. Keep Reading.

The Blunt Truth: Marijuana Isn’t Medicine: New research continues to show that marijuana isn’t medicine. Keep Reading.

NFL, Sportsbooks Face Lawsuit Over Micro-Betting Addiction: Two Pennsylvania men have sued NFL, DraftKings, FanDuel, and other sportsbooks over the harm from gambling addiction and in-game micro-bets. Keep Reading.

Federal Reserve Bank Report Shows Sports Betting Hurts Consumer Credit: A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows consumer credit health is suffering in the wake of sports betting’s legalization. Keep Reading.

Abortion Drugs Are Not About Women’s Health: Our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom recently released a video highlighting how abortion drugs are not about women’s health. Keep Reading.

The Bible Does Not Support Abortion: In February, James Talarico, a U.S. Senate candidate from Texas, claimed that the biblical story of the Annunciation from the Gospel of Luke supports his proabortion position. On the Joe Rogan podcast, Talarico asserted that because the angel sought Mary’s consent, a woman has a right to choose her own procreative destiny. Keep Reading.

Courts Hold Social Media Giant Accountable for Harming Kids: Two juries in two days have found Facebook and Instagram owner, Meta, liable for harming children on its social media platforms. Keep Reading.

Fewer Pastors Considering Quitting Ministry, Research Shows: Pastoral burnout in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic caused many to consider quitting ministry, but recent research shows that may be changing. Keep Reading.