Oregon’s first-in-the-nation law that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs in favor of an emphasis on addiction treatment is facing strong headwinds in the progressive state after an explosion of public drug use fueled by the proliferation of fentanyl and a surge in deaths from opioids, including those of children.
“The inability for people to live their day-to-day life without encountering open-air drug use is so pressing on urban folks’ minds,” said John Horvick, vice president of polling firm DHM Research. “That has very much changed people’s perspective about what they think Measure 110 is.”
When the law was approved by 58% of Oregon voters three years ago, supporters championed Measure 110 as a revolutionary approach that would transform addiction by minimizing penalties for drug use and investing instead in recovery.
But even top Democratic lawmakers who backed the law, which will likely dominate the upcoming legislative session, say they’re now open to revisiting it after the biggest increase in synthetic opioid deaths among states that have reported their numbers.
Also severe police shortage amidst nationwide increase in crimes. I don’t think any of the drug users are getting cited for public drug use at all unless they have to be taken to the hospital.
Edit: I DIDN’T SAY DEFUND. Portland has a massive police shortage. They also STATE that they don’t prioritize nonviolent drug use because they don’t have manpower.
There isn’t a nationwide increase in crime, and there haven’t been defundings of the police.
What reality do you live in?
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What the fuck happened here?
Portland has had a police shortage since 2020. I never said anything about defunding. Portland Police also have wait times and aren’t responding to non violent drug use calls unless life is in danger.
Crimes are also up Only murder went “down” because it was extremely high post pandemic and hasn’t gotten down to prepandemic.
No need to be an asshole about it
Have the police tried just working harder, or perhaps pulling themselves up by their bootstraps
What a constructive comment. Thank god we have leftists like you adding so much to our government and our community ethos.
“Nobody wants to police anymore” it’s almost like all the things that make the job what it is make it only a job for shitty people
Why is it that “nobody wants to work” is somehow the workers problem for not accepting poor working conditions but “we have a police shortage” falls on society to make things “easier” for them