Criminalization Won’t End Addiction
We’re facing an unprecedented drug crisis in our community. Many of us on our own team have felt the anguish of losing loved ones to overdose.
We share and feel the anger and hurt caused by this crisis and understand the urgency to do something. Anything.
However, we have to avoid resurrecting the war on drugs and other failed policies from the past. What we truly need are effective solutions based on research and real-world experience.
In Oregon, a year after Measure 110's approval, progress on promised rehabilitation centers has been slow, and visible substance use rates are rising. In some ways, we don’t blame voters for reconsidering their support.
The Coalition to Fix and Improve Measure 110 recently announced they want to eliminate Measure 110 while retaining its drug treatment provisions. They also seek to re-criminalize hard drug possession and use mandatory treatment programs as an alternative to jail time. (1)
We agree that more resources should be directed towards drug treatment, but there's limited evidence supporting involuntary treatment. Involuntary treatment deprives people of liberty, fails to offer evidence-based treatment, and may leave patients worse off by making them vulnerable to overdose risk.
There is also insufficient evidence supporting the idea that incarceration or criminalization effectively removes drugs from our streets. It's not uncommon to see the proliferation of drugs occurring within law enforcement ranks. (3) The Portland Police Bureau had its own rogue narcotic ring in the early ‘80s. (4)
We acknowledge that addiction does discriminate. Both overdose and criminalization disproportionately affect homeless and minoritized folks.
We witness the devastating impacts of the fentanyl epidemic every day in Old Town.
We need to listen to those most affected by the drug crisis—drug users themselves. People with real stories of struggle and triumph. Meaningful peer engagement is a lifeline, a chance to save lives.
Our commitment lies in addressing root causes and advocating for harm reduction methods, safe use sites, and mental health programs, as well as for universal healthcare, nurturing childhood wellness and education, and fortifying the social safety net. We need to advocate for repealing criminal prohibition and enacting a reasonable regulatory system.
Support Oregon Health Justice Recovery Alliance’s Efforts to Protect Measure 110
