More than two dozen Oregon officials, advocates and other representatives returned from Portugal this past weekend after studying the health-focused approach to substance abuse disorders in Portugal.
The visit coincides with the third anniversary since Oregonians passed Measure 110. This law decriminalized drugs across the state, and funneled millions in tax revenues from marijuana to expand addiction recovery services.
“The main thing I learned from this trip was that seeing is believing,” said state Rep. Rob Nosse, a D-member of the delegation said in a press release about the trip. There is no disagreement in Portugal between the policymakers and the law enforcement leaders when it comes this law. They are all united in their belief that those with addictions need healthcare and have built an integrated system for them to receive the care they require.
Nosse continued, “We can learn a lot from their approach and program that we can use in our work here at Oregon.”
The trip was sponsored by Health Justice Recovery Alliance, a drug reform group. It included meetings with health professionals, law enforcement officials, legislators, harm reduction groups, as well as Joao Gulao, who is the architect of Portugal’s 2001 decriminalization drug program.
Tera Hurst is the executive director of the advocacy group. “We learned from Portugal’s patient first approach and found that much of what they do is relevant to our work here in Oregon,” she said. “We were able to see first-hand the results of a health-oriented approach to substance abuse after 20 years.”
HJRA stated that six key policy imperatives “were clear for all those who attended.” These included fully funding treatment services, and adopting an approach of health care instead of punishment.
In a press statement, the group stated that “when Portugal cut funding for treatments, drug use rates and overdoses rose again.” Portugal has now reinvested in treatment funding, and is doubling down its funding for public health responses to addiction.
The organization said that Portugal decriminalized drug addiction in order to combat the overdose epidemic they faced due to increased heroin consumption, similar to [what] we experience here with synthetic opioids fentanyl. This trip reminded us all, regardless of where we stand on Measure110, that we want addiction to be treated as a health issue, not a criminal offense.
The study also found that coordination among health officials, addiction recovery programs, state-run treatment and detox facilities, non-profits, law enforcement, and others is essential. It also concluded that drug users and police should not be viewed as the “enemy” in policy discussions.
HJRA stated that “in Portugal, addiction experts and law enforcement agencies work together to combat addiction.” We must provide the law enforcement with the necessary support to help them do the same. We need to build relationships with them and create trust, rather than shutting out the process. This will allow us to partner to find solutions that work on the ground.
Janie Gullickson is the executive director of Health and Addiction Association of Oregon. She said, “We all must work together and that includes the law enforcement to address the daily suffering we see on our streets.”
Gullickson stated that “we need to support the law enforcement because they are often the very first to respond to someone who is in a crisis.” The Portugal trip allowed us to break down many of the walls between law enforcement and providers. It’s not about politics; it’s all about helping people. “We are all in this field because we care deeply about our communities.”
HJRA concluded that decriminalizing simple drug possession under Measure 110 “remains a right thing to be done,” but said the reform did not go far enough to create a comprehensive approach to addiction.
The group stated that “we need to identify multiple financing sources and policy solutions in order to build out a complete system of care rather than relying solely on one solution.” Portugal’s decriminalization package was passed in 2000. Decriminalization was just one of more than 70 policies proposed to combat the addiction crisis. Portugal’s decriminalization package included extensive resources for public health to educate people about prevention and engage those with addictions in vital services.
HJRA said that more should be done to discourage drug abuse in public.
It said that “Law enforcement must have non-criminal pre-arrest procedures and strategies to enable them to be an efficient partner in reducing the public’s use of drugs.” We need to give law enforcement clear instructions if we expect them to take part in the fight against public drug usage on our streets.
The trip of the delegation comes at a time when some are working in Oregon to undo Measure 110, specifically its decriminalization of drug use and possess . A group of businessmen and politicians announced in September two versions of an upcoming ballot initiative to undo the key provisions of Measure 110.
In one version, it would be a misdemeanor to possess “hard” drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine. Other examples include heroin, cocaine, and heroin. The proposal would also create an additional misdemeanor crime for the use of illegal drugs in public.
Second version would increase penalties in the event of a repeat offender, or if drug use results in death. In the expanded version, possession of tableting and encapsulating equipment would be a crime. The definition of “delivery” of drugs will also include possession with intent to transfer.
The broader version also transfers control of Measure 110 funding – which is derived from the state cannabis tax revenues – to the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission.
Tomorrow I will be going to Portugal, along with a group of service providers, policy experts, and elected and appointed officials.
I will be making notes and sharing my observations. https://t.co/LpkaWc2poY
— Morgan Godvin October 27th, 2023
Despite the overdose crisis in Oregon and visible homelessness, support for decriminalization is waning. While 58 percent voted in favor of Measure 110 during the election, a recent poll released by opponents revealed that 61 percent now believe it was a failure.
Morgan Godvin, a researcher in drug policy and a member of the delegation, noted that Portugal’s crisis was “so urgent” because it affected so many people, just like ours.
Godvin stated that “They responded so well to their opioid crises, they no longer have any. They consistently show some of the lowest rates of overdose in Europe.” “In Oregon, it is important that we expand our services to ensure that anyone who needs treatment can get the care they need. We must give people better options if we want them to make better decisions. This is not a difficult task; it just requires steadfast commitment towards health and human rights.”
According to the Health Justice Recovery Alliance press release, members of the delegation include:
- Rep. Rob Nosse (D)
- Rep. Lily Morgan
- Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D)
- Senate Majority leader Kate Lieber
- Sgt. Aaron Schmautz, Portland Police Association (PPA)
- Detective Scotty Nowning (SPEU), Salem Police Employee’s Union
- Kimberly McCullough is the Oregon Department of Justice’s (DOJ) spokesperson
- Channa Newell is the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office
- Multnomah County CEO Jessica Vega Pederson (D)
- Bridges to Change by Monta Knudson
- Mark Harris, Oregon Black Brown Indigenous Advocacy Coalition (OBBIAC)
- Shannon Olive, Women First Transition & Referral Center
- Mercedes Elizalde, Latino Network
- Janie Gullickson is the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon
- Paul Soloman, Oregon Criminal Justice Commission
- Fernando Pena, NW Instituto Latino
- Andy Ko, Partnership for Safety & Justice
- Morgan Godvin is a drug policy researcher at the Oregon Alcohol & Drug Policy Commission and Measure 110 Oversight & Accountability Council.
- Joe Bazeghi of Recovery Works NW
- Theshia Naidoo Drug Policy Alliance
- Iris Chavez Equity Action Partners
- Tera Hurst Health Justice Recovery Alliance
- Ron Williams, Health Justice Recovery Alliance
- Devon Downeysmith Health Justice Recovery Alliance
- Diana Nunez, Health Justice Recovery Alliance
A study of the rates of fatal overdoses in Oregon and other jurisdictions found that this policy had little impact on deaths.
“Our analysis suggests state decriminalization does not lead to an increase in overdose death,” Corey Davis said at the Time. Davis is adjunct professor at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, and a senior researcher for the report.
The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry, in September. They followed another recent Study that Davis co-authored, which found that decriminalization led to a reduction in arrests in Oregon and Washington State for drug possession, but not for violent crimes.
Davis stated that the two studies showed that decriminalization policies in Oregon and Washington did not result in an increase of overdose deaths, but rather reduced arrests. These findings, taken together, indicate that drug users and their communities may be less at risk.
Researchers found that the increased funding in Oregon for treatment and recovery programs didn’t take effect until their study concluded.
The study found that the state’s distribution of $287.3 millions for behavioral health services was “slow and the majority was distributed between April 2022 and September 2022 after our study period.” The study found that funded programming can help reduce drug-related risky behaviors, and promote pathways to recovery. This could lead to a reduction in nonfatal or fatal overdoses.
According to the latest available data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oregon had the 34th-highest fatal overdose rate in the United States.
The Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) oversight council received more staffing and administrative assistance from the legislature in June .
An audit conducted by the Secretary of State in January of Measure 110 found that OHA needs to improve its coordination and provide better support. The report concluded that it was still too early to determine whether Measure 110 programs would be able to curb the state’s drugs problems.
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Photo by Flickr/Marco Verch.
The post Oregon officials and drug policy advocates return from Portugal trip with fresh ideas on decriminalization first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
