Friend, we recently let you know that Measure 110 is under attack. Our opponents are blaming it for causing nearly every social problem that Oregonians are concerned about in their communities. While the concerns Oregonians have are real, the narrative being pushed by our opponents is not. Yet major media outlets are helping them spread inaccurate misinformation.
We won’t let this stand. A vast majority of Americans know the drug war has failed and support treating drug use as a health issue instead of a crime. Oregon was the first state to lead the way on a new approach by decriminalizing drugs and investing in health alternatives. It’s showing positive impacts and just beginning to deliver on its promise.
What you're not hearing is that Measure 110 provided more than $300 million for addiction services and social supports such as overdose prevention, housing, peer support, harm reduction, treatment and recovery programs, and more. Tens of thousands of people have accessed these services while arrests for drug possession have decreased dramatically. And an independent evaluation found Measure 110 has not caused an increase in crime.
In response to the recent onslaught of inaccurate headlines, I wanted to share news that is telling the real story:
With your support, we are doing everything we can to fight back against our opponents who are committed to going back to the drug war status quo. They are invested in criminalizing people rather than addressing root causes that can lead to meaningful change. And they are using the media to deliberately mislead the public to paint Measure 110 as the culprit for a complex web of social issues.
While drug war defenders point fingers, we are committed to making lasting, meaningful change our communities need. Please help us tell the real story by sharing these resources and spreading the word.
