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Oregon passed Measure 110 in 2020, effectively legalizing the drug. The aftermath has left Oregon in chaos ever since, with 956 fatal overdoses in 2022. Now, $1 fentanyl pills are fueling the crisis. A failure seen in the state’s largest city.
Homelessness has exploded in Portland, where outdoor drug use is as common as the tents, trash, drug paraphernalia and human waste that line the city’s once-bustling streets. Instead of seeking treatment as promised by 911, drug addicts are asking for clean needles, fentanyl pipes, and naloxone.
Finally, nearly four years after the passage of Bill 110, city, county, and state Democratic leaders are speaking out about this crisis and planning to urgently address it to prevent further loss of life. I am. They boldly declared a “fentanyl emergency” and ordered agencies to collaborate on programs to crack down on drug sales and get addicts into treatment.
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Unfortunately, that plan is a fool’s errand, years too late. Their 90-day emergency plans have little, if any, impact on the crisis. That’s what we can expect from the ideologues who created this mess in the first place.
The governor’s office said the emergency plan centers on convincing people addicted to fentanyl in downtown Portland to work with social workers and other first responders. These staff aim to provide addicts with the resources they need, such as drug treatment, medical assistance, educational resources, and food stamps.
But this “new” declaration is not that different from the 2022 90-day declaration. ”reset” and established a street services coordination center to connect homeless addicts with resources, but that also failed. data The survey, from April 2022 to the last week of January 2024, found city staff were unable to reach many homeless people each week, and only about a third agreed to shelter for at least one night. It became clear.
Give habitual lawbreakers a choice. They either get treatment or go to jail. The prospect of coming down from the heights of prison is enough to frighten addicts.
In other words, this emergency plan is similar to what is already in place across multiple agencies within the city, county, and state. No new funding has been committed to this effort, and surprisingly, there is no established effort. benchmark For success.The program coordinator said they would establish benchmarks for them. rear They started trying.
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The county and state still refuse to abandon the “harm reduction” approach. Supporters say this will reduce the effects of illegal drug abuse and give addicts enough time to seek treatment. But this strategy goes beyond handing out drug paraphernalia and enabling users.
What’s Killing America: Inside the Radical Left’s Tragic Disaster of Our Cities by Jason Lantz is available wherever books are sold. (Center Street)
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The Oregon Health Authority encourages addicts to use it in groups so that friends can quickly intervene if someone overdoses. They are instructed to take fentanyl at their own pace, “starting with a small amount and taking it slowly to see the strength and effects of the substance.”
As I write in my new book,What’s Killing America: Inside the Tragic Destruction of Our Cities by the Radical Left,“We will never see real results unless we abandon the strategies that keep people addicted to drugs. This is why harm reduction fails so badly. more Addiction is no small thing.
As I describe in my book, municipalities that offer a carrot-and-stick approach are successful. It’s expensive and time consuming, but it’s effective.
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Give habitual lawbreakers a choice. They either get treatment or go to jail. The prospect of coming down from the heights of prison is enough to frighten addicts. And while they may not be in jail for more than 24 hours, if that happens, it is important to follow the addict until they succumb and continue to accept treatment. For this to work, the state would need to fund more treatment centers or beds. You could save a lot of money by stopping buying tons of needles, pipes, and fentanyl test strips.
The announcement of the emergency plan did not go down well with some Multnomah County commissioners. They question why the focus is on downtown when the entire county is in crisis, and wonder if a county that has been dragging its feet while people are dying will suddenly take this crisis seriously. I guessed that this was just checking a box.
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“This resolution is unfortunate, it’s pathetic,” Commissioner Sharon Meylan said. “It’s a haphazard and feeble attempt to govern by press releases. It doesn’t solve anything and the Speaker has issued a state of emergency for all those who asked for a state of emergency in Multnomah County. All you have to do is check that box.” This shows the depth of the county’s allergic reaction to accountability and measurable results. ”
Mayeran attempts to amend an emergency plan that promises to track overdoses, reduce fentanyl overdoses and use by 25%, and create 500 additional convalescent housing beds and 250 residential treatment beds. Ta. The amendment failed.
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Given that they haven’t changed anything, it’s easy to explain why Democrats are reluctant to set measurable goals. They won’t be able to accomplish anything.
The country’s insistence on sticking to a failed playbook of harm reduction and state of emergency, without real change or accountability, not only undermines the fight against addiction, but also signals a serious failure of leadership. . It’s a city like Portland that continues to cost lives and erode the urban fabric, eventually replacing the slogan “Keep Portland Weird” with “Don’t Let Portland Become a Drug addict.” will need to be replaced with
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