Oregon’s experiment with loosening penalties for drug possession has faced controversy and mixed results. Measure 110, which was approved by Oregon voters in November 2020, fines people caught with small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use just $100, which can be waived if they participate in a drug screening and health assessment. The aim of the measure is to focus prosecutions on large-scale dealers and treat addiction as a public health emergency.
Since the measure took effect in February 2021, Oregon’s overdose rates have continued to rise. Open-air drug use has become more visible, with people openly using drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine in parks and on the streets. Tents of unhoused people now line many sidewalks in Portland, and waiting lists for addiction treatment have grown longer. Some politicians and community groups are calling for tougher laws on fentanyl possession, while others argue that Measure 110 needs more time and resources.
The impact of the measure can be seen in the experiences of individuals in Portland. Jennifer Myrle, who operates a coffee shop and wine bar in downtown Portland, describes the daily challenges she faces, including navigating through drug paraphernalia and encountering public acts of indecency. Officer David Baer of the Portland Police Bureau patrols downtown on a mountain bike, arresting street dealers and administering the overdose-reversal drug Narcan to those experiencing emergencies. He highlights the pushback from some who believe drug users should not be given lifesaving interventions.
For Noah Nethers, who is living in a tent on a sidewalk in Portland, the city has become a haven for homeless drug addicts due to the lenient penalties and the availability of cheap drugs. Nethers describes the downside of tent living, including the violence he faces from other drug users and the constant threat of eviction by the police. He reflects on his own journey with addiction, searching for a way out of the cycle.
Solara Salazar, director of the Cielo Treatment Center, sees the consequences of the drug crisis in Portland firsthand. She receives numerous inquiries about rehab services but is unable to accommodate the overwhelming demand. While funding for increased services comes from marijuana tax revenues, residential treatment for addiction has not been adequately expanded. Critics argue that few drug users who received fines sought rehab, but Salazar believes that harm reduction and providing a range of services are essential approaches to tackling addiction.
The debate over Measure 110 continues in Oregon, with stakeholders weighing the effectiveness of the policy against the rising overdose rates and visible drug use. As the state grapples with the challenges of addiction, the search for effective strategies to address the crisis remains ongoing.