In 2020, Oregonians overwhelmingly voted for Measure 110. This landmark ballot initiative made Oregon the first place in the US to decriminalize possession of small amounts of all drugs. This means people are no longer arrested and put in jail for using or possessing drugs. It also directs hundreds of millions of dollars into addiction services and social supports for people who use drugs. These services include low-barrier substance use treatment, peer support and recovery services, housing and employment support, and overdose prevention. The Drug Policy Alliance wrote Measure 110 and Drug Policy Action spearheaded the campaign to get it passed.
Oregon’s Measure 110 ended criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of all drugs. It is also greatly expanding access to much needed (and chronically underfunded) addiction services in the state. Despite early indicators of success and continued voter support, some elected officials and anti-drug opponents want to go back to a harmful system where people are arrested and put in jail for drug possession.
As with the rest of the country, fentanyl and other less understood (but potentially more potent) drugs continue to overtake the drug supply in Oregon. And while this has sadly led to an increased overdose death rate, Oregon remains well below the national average. With increased access to services funded by Measure 110, Oregonians will be better equipped to prevent and respond to overdoses. Measure 110 also removes the barriers caused by criminalization that prevent people from seeking lifesaving support.
The majority of the $302+ million funding for the 2021-23 budget cycle was allocated to service providers in August 2022. As such, much of the service infrastructure is still getting up off the ground. Yet, instead of understanding huge systems change takes time, some legislators have already tried to remove funding or roll back certain components of the measure. We have been up against many legislative attempts that would undermine the measure and its ability to help Oregonians. DPA, its partners on the ground, and legislative allies are hard at work to protect the will of the voters and ensure Measure 110 has the resources and support it needs to be successful.
The Drug Policy Alliance is fighting to ensure successful implementation of Measure 110 and build a robust public health response to drug use in Oregon. We are:
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