In defense of drug decriminalization – yes, in Oregon
The passage of Measure 110 was the culmination of years of efforts to show Oregonians and people across the country that the harms of incarceration can compound on, exacerbate, and – in some cases- exceed the harms caused by drug use itself. Oregon’s Health Authority has reported a 44 percent increase in people seeking treatment and a 115 percent increase in people being screened within a span of a few months in 2022.
The implementation of Oregon’s decriminalization measure coincided with both the emergence of fentanyl in local drug supplies and the height of the… pandemic – a combination that has led to over 100,000 deaths annually nationwide. With such a challenging backdrop, the appearance of failure provides a convenient narrative for those who wish to return to the status quo. But the data tells a different story… The data show us that overdose rates are currently surging in the West and that this surge is not specific to Oregon alone or associated with the implementation of its decriminalization measure… study led by researchers at RTI International looked at 911 calls in Portland after decriminalization and found that there was no increase in crime, and a recent analysis using FBI data found that, from 2021 to 2022, violent crime and property crime both declined in Oregon. These statistics paint a picture of steady, unchanged crime rates in Portland following decriminalization and a downward trend in crime rates statewide…
Original Article (The Nation):
In defense of drug decriminalization – yes, in Oregon
Artwork Fair Use: Eluveitie
