Oregon's Drug Decriminalization Law Faces Opposition Amid Fentanyl Crisis
Lawmakers Consider Revisions as Synthetic Opioid Deaths Surge and Treatment Incentives Fall Short
- Oregon's drug decriminalization law, Measure 110, is facing growing opposition amid a surge in public drug use and deaths from opioids, particularly synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
- Despite the law's intention to transform addiction treatment by reducing penalties for drug use and investing in recovery, critics argue it has failed to incentivize treatment, with only 1% of those cited for possession seeking help via a state hotline.
- Lawmakers and law enforcement officials are considering revising the law, with proposals including harsher sanctions for possession, mandatory treatment, and reestablishing drug possession as a class A misdemeanor.
- Oregon has seen the highest increase in synthetic opioid overdose fatalities among states reporting data, with a 13-fold surge from 84 deaths to over 1,100 between 2019 and mid-2023.
- Despite criticism, the law has directed $265 million of cannabis tax revenue towards addiction treatment infrastructure and created Behavioral Health Resource Networks in every county, doubling the number of people entering treatment from July-September 2022 to January-March 2023.