As reported by KOIN, the new law now allows convicted offenders to seek treatment through a behavioral health screening and participation in a "deflection program" rather than being penalized with a fine.
In an earlier story, the outlet noted that Portland Police Chief Bob Day said the police bureau is “committed to participating in the enforcement of the law.”
Data from the Gresham and Portland Police Departments indicated that six people have been arrested for drug possession since the law went into effect, one of them was cited and two of them were qualified for the deflection program and accepted behavioral health service.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, in the past four years since the implementation of Measure 110, "fatal overdoses involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl have significantly risen throughout Oregon. The number of unintentional overdose deaths related to illicitly manufactured fentanyl nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2022, increasing from 223 to 843 overdose fatalities.”
Portland’s Democratic mayor, Ted Wheeler, was even quoted by The New York Sun conceding the point. He said, "There’s no question that what Oregon did was a bold experiment, and it failed."
The assessment appeared to be bipartisan, with a Republican state representative, Rick Lewis telling the outlet, "HB 4002, if implemented correctly, will get us started on a path that is better than what we had with what amounted to legalization of hard drugs under the measure."
“Decriminalization of hard drugs as a ‘solution’ to getting people off drugs was never destined for success. We have a deep hole to dig ourselves out of,” he added, stating the state needs to “get tougher on drug dealers,” referring in particular to those dealing fatal drugs.
“We created the demand with the passage of Measure 110 and the supply followed. We need stronger actions to reduce the supply and that can only come with targeting drug dealers and importers of drugs like fentanyl and meth by guaranteed prison time.” He added, "I don’t believe for a moment that it will fully address the crisis."
Comments
2024-09-05T17:33-0400 | Comment by: Dawn
They were warned that it wouldn't work and could, in fact, backfire, but they didn't listen.
2024-09-05T20:42-0400 | Comment by: Rick
Thanks for your article on Oregon’s failed decriminalized measure and steps taken to recriminalize hard drugs. I had a bill that would have been much stronger than HB 4002, but it never got traction. As a 40-year retired law enforcement veteran and police chief, I can tell you that decriminalizing heroin, meth, cocaine and fentanyl as a ploy to reduce drugs and OD’s will never work. Oregon is an absolute mess right now thanks the the measure and providing enabling services like exchanging clean needles for dirty ones. Oregon is the shining example of what states should never consider doing. Rick Lewis, Oregon State Rep
2024-09-06T16:58-0400 | Comment by: Wayne
It doesn't seem that democrats can get anything right except if it's illegal, that's usually where they excel. There are many countries that have legalized all drugs, their death and crime rates actually went down