(RepublicanReport.org) – In November 2020, voters in the state of Oregon passed Measure 110, telling the government how they wanted political leaders to deal with certain drug possession issues. One reduced the penalties for holding some controlled substances, and the other measure added the anticipated cost used to enforce those laws to help fund drug addiction and treatment programs. Fentanyl use remains an issue, one the governor recently addressed.
On January 30, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (D) issued an executive order (EO 24-07) declaring a state of emergency because of a fentanyl use crisis happening in Portland City. While the state leader said the government on multiple levels has committed various resources to address the problem, it’s just not enough. Kotek’s order said coordinated action is needed to make available programs more effective to get the most benefit.
Kotek said the public emergency centers around fentanyl injuries and deaths, housing issues, treatment and healthcare needs, trauma to Portland residents, and a declining reputation for the city.
According to The Daily Wire, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Nega Pederson also declared an emergency over the situation. Kotek listed several directives in her order, including mobilizing the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, which would activate an emergency plan and work with the Oregon Department of Human Services Assistance.
The governor also tagged several other bodies, including the Oregon State Police, the health licensing boards, and the Department of Administrative Services. The plan and strategy developed from the coordinated effort will expire 90 days after implementation.
Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton said the voters had three years with the new law they agreed to in 2020, which didn’t deliver on its promise of approaching drug addiction and overdose more effectively. According to a local news source, 300 will likely die of an overdose in the state over the next 90 days, indicating the effort will require a longer-term plan.
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