Here's what you need to know...
Inaccurate reporting about Measure 110 is making national headlines again, Friend. It’s so frustrating to see prominent outlets that should know better spreading misinformation about this groundbreaking law that made Oregon the first U.S. state to decriminalize drugs and invest in health: [link removed]
In Oregon and many other places across the country, people have real concerns about addiction, homelessness, and public disorder. These challenges are not new. We all want communities where everyone has a good quality of life with access to the services they need. We can’t solve public health problems with punitive policies. And we don’t have time to waste rehashing failed drug war policies, like criminalization and forced treatment, we know don’t work.
The challenges seen in Oregon and in cities across the U.S. are the result of decades of overlapping systemic failures and the failure of local and national government to do its job. Instead of pursuing real solutions, drug war defenders, opportunistic politicians, and media pundits are using Measure 110 as a scapegoat for nearly every issue Oregonians face in their communities.
Every time this misleading story shows up, we respond to let you know what’s really happening. And supporters like you are vital to helping us tell the truth. Here’s what you need to know to correct the record on Measure 110:
--Public drug use and public disorder are the result of homelessness and people not having a place to go or not having the help they need. Homelessness has risen dramatically nationwide as well as in Oregon. This is a symptom of an unmet need for support and housing, not drug decriminalization.
--Measure 110 provides critical health services and reduces the vast harms of criminalization. It’s doing its part to address addiction with a public health approach, but it won’t solve homelessness and other public disorder issues which can only be fixed by elected officials that have shamefully neglected to act for far too long.
--Recriminalizing drugs in Oregon would make things worse. Jailing people for drugs wastes money and creates a revolving door of arrest and incarceration. This puts people right back onto the street, now with a criminal record and a higher overdose risk without having received any services.
--Mandatory treatment isn’t the solution, either — it does not address the underlying reasons people are on the street. And there is no evidence suggesting it's more effective than voluntary treatment. Treatment works best for those who want it.
Across America and in Oregon, we all deserve healthy communities where people can get access to the services they need and where our businesses and communities can thrive. It’s time to focus on real solutions that invest in communities so we all have the resources we need. And we must hold our elected officials accountable to make that a reality. Decriminalizing drugs is only one part of the solution for building healthier communities, our elected leaders must also invest in:
--more addiction services, including treatment;
--rapid response behavioral health services and workers on our streets;
--resources for local communities;
--affordable housing and shelter;
--and overdose prevention centers.
Healthy communities are possible if we work together to create the systems and services people need to improve their lives and meet their urgent needs, rather than punishing them.
Sincerely,
Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance
P.S. Check out and share our toolkit about how we can move away from criminalization toward health-centered approaches that allow all of us to thrive: [link removed]
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