Oregon's pioneering drug decriminalization law is facing a backlash amid a surge in public drug use fueled by fentanyl and an increase in synthetic opioid overdose deaths.

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.

  • @Jonna
    2•1 year ago

    Are you saying “housing first” works or not?

    Because just labeling something “housing first” without actually providing housing of course doesn’t work and that may be what you’re say. But a proper “housing first” DOES WORK to significantly improve people’s lives and reduce their engagement with emergency services (ie, cops and hospitals), which is quality of life for the rest of us.

    Here’s a study from the Lancet (n=1103): https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(22)00117-1/fulltext

    • @[email protected]
      1•1 year ago

      Well, did you read the study you posted?

      Housing First approach is founded on a rights-based philosophy, which provides clients with immediate access to permanent housing and mental health support services

      Upon enrolment, service teams create collaborative housing and care plans and facilitate access to health services and income benefits

      For all three of our models, health and social service consultation at enrolment was confirmed to be a significant part of multiple indirect pathways to the 24-month outcomes.

      Recovery approaches in mental health programs such as those used in Housing First seek to connect clients to meaningful daily routines around school and greater engagement with family and community.

      The Oregon way of doing “Housing First” would be to take the name of the program literally, put people into apartments and expect that now all their problems resolve themselves.