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Oregon's first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law faces growing pushback amid fentanyl crisis (apnews.com)

submitted 7 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

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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.

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[-] themadcodger@kbin.social 18 points 7 months ago

Second Oregonian here, and also yup. We decriminalized but then decided not to require treatment (Portugal method), and then didn't fund treatment anyway.

[-] TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Portugal doesn't require treatment. I don't know where this idea came from, but this isn't the first time I've seen this misinformation.

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee -2 points 7 months ago

No one seems to wonder where all our income tax is going. Hmmmmmm

this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023

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