Election day is full of shock, awe, and surprise. One of the many surprises this year comes out of the state of Oregon where Oregonians voted to decriminalize the possession of street drugs including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and more.
Measure 110 in Oregon passed by a wide margin as the votes are continuing to come in.
While selling and manufacturing these substances remains illegal, the possession of small amounts of these drugs will now only result in a fine, like a traffic infraction, rather than a potential stay in a penitentiary.
Decriminalization measures will take effect in February 2021.
There was much debate over this ballot measure with support and opposition coming from all over with those in support advocating for treatment and rehabilitation over incarceration.
“Instead of caring for people, offering appropriate treatment, we have decided to incarcerate them and by incarcerating them, we take away the very things that allows their recovery,” said Andy Seaman, an addiction specialist and assistant professor of medicine.
Meanwhile opponents of the measure argue it will only lead to increased crime, and a “revolving door” of drug abuse, like with opioid addiction.
“Unfortunately, removing the threat of incarceration and abandoning collaboration between law enforcement, probation, and the drug court system will result in a revolving door of drug abuse, treatment refusal, crime, homelessness, and ongoing costly health-related expenditures for hospitalizations due to overdoses, infections, and drug-induced psychosis,” said Dr. Paul Coelho of Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics.
While we won’t know how this measure will affect Oregonians for a few years, we can look to other countries who have passed similar measures.
In 2001, Portugal became the first country in the world to decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. In the years and decades that followed, the results surprised many.
A 2018 report by Time Magazine indicates that the drug-induced death rate is five times lower than the European Union average and is one-fiftieth of that of the United States. Moreover, the drug use among the 15-24-year-old population fell, this is one of the most at-risk populations of initiating substance use.
Along with these, the HIV rate, once a major problem in the country, plummeted. This was likely due to a decrease in injecting drugs with unsafe and dirty needles.
In Portugal, drug dealers still go to prison, but those in possession of substances are typically sent to a local commission of professionals to examine their substance abuse and determine whether treatment or medical services are needed.
These types of policies, called harm reduction, have been implemented, albeit not as comprehensive as Portugal’s, in other parts of the world.
For instance, Canada has numerous safe injection sites around the country. Safe injection sites allow users to come in and use their drugs with clean needles that are provided in a clean and safe space. Staff is on hand with overdose antidotes in case one occurs.
Since 2003, these safe injection sites have responded to over 6,000 overdoses, with nobody dying there. No signs of encouraging or advocating for increased drug use were found.
The belief behind safe injection sites and other harm reduction strategies is that people will use these drugs whether they are illegal or not, by providing services like these you can save lives and even help them get on the right track toward treatment and sobriety.
That said, everywhere is different and just because something may seem to work in one country or state doesn’t necessarily mean it will work in other places.
As Oregon, passes this measure, the rest of the states will watch to determine what they need to do to try and curb a national drug epidemic that leads to tens of thousands of deaths each year, primarily from opioid overdoses.
What are your opinions on this new measure? Do you think it will help or harm the state?
Let us know what you think in the comment section.
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