Elected leaders in Oregon have declared a state of emergency for downtown Portland over the public health and public safety crisis fueled by fentanyl. Oregon Gov.

Several elected leaders in Oregon declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for downtown Portland over the public health and public safety crisis fueled by fentanyl.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson made the declaration for a 90-day period during which collaboration and response will come from a command center downtown. The three governments are directing their agencies to work with first responders in connecting people addicted to the synthetic opioid with resources including drug treatment programs and to crack down on drug sales.

“Our country and our state have never seen a drug this deadly addictive, and all are grappling with how to respond,” Kotek said in a statement.

    • stembolts@programming.devEnglish
      5·
      5 months ago

      I think the mentality of the comment “legalize, regulate” is less, “O yeah let’s let people do fent recreationally!” and more, “If someone is found to have personal-use fent, they have bigger problems that need addressing so don’t punish them for that.”

      Treat them like victims vs treating them like criminals. At least that is how I understand it. It doesn’t mean let them walk away and spread fent to other users, it means to support them.

      Tho I am curious how others understand the statement. I am also curious how it would be actionable, like what should the state do to support these people?

    • Aabbcc@lemm.eeEnglish
      51·
      5 months ago

      Legalizing and regulating is not promoting the drug. But it means those who are addicted will be sure its clean (free of tranq) and won’t need to be purchased from drug dealers. Additionally, if you’re not going to be arrested for using it you will feel safer to use safe injection sites and other harm reduction resources

      Any meaningful path to lowering addiction rates and getting people clean won’t involve sending people to jail for possession or use