Oregon is learning the hard way with anything-goes policies for street drugs. Both the Oregon House and Senate voted this week to undo some of the more troubling aspects of the state’s liberal drug law, Measure 110, which voters approved in 2020 to decriminalize possession of small amounts of hardcore street drugs.
House Bill 4002 restores misdemeanor penalties for drug possession and allows cities and counties to divert users into treatment programs or face up to six months in jail. The bill had bipartisan support and was the result of months of legislative work. Most provisions in the law will take effect immediately because of the bill’s emergency clause.
In January, the city of Portland declared a state of emergency over fentanyl usage in downtown Portland.
Democrat Gov. Tina Kotek has not said whether she will sign the bill. She said changes to the underlying citizen initiative “would have to pass the balancing test of concrete, measurable improved outcomes for individuals who are struggling with addiction and accountability.”
Oregon drug users are dying in record numbers, according to official data. In 2019 there were 280 unintentional opioid overdose deaths, and by the end of 2022, the number had exploded to 956. Numbers are not yet compiled for 2023, but are expected to increase from the 628 known deaths; the number of opioid overdose visits to Oregon emergency departments in 2023 are higher than previous years, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
In Alaska, 633 overdose deaths involving opioids were recorded between 2018 and 2022 (about 127 per year). Then in 2021, that number jumped to 198, and in 2022. Overall overdose deaths in Alaska reached 255 in 2021, and 247 in 2022.
