For the past two and a half years, Oregon has been conducting a unique experiment in an effort to combat addiction and reduce overdose deaths. Instead of prosecuting individuals caught with small amounts of drugs for personal use, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, they are fined a mere $100. The fine can be waived if the individual agrees to undergo a drug screening and health assessment. The primary goal is to reserve prosecutions for large-scale drug dealers and address addiction as a public health emergency.
In November 2020, Oregon voters approved this proposal, known as Measure 110, with nearly 60% support. At the time of its approval, downtown Portland had already been emptied due to the pandemic. However, the city’s street population was growing, particularly following the anti-police protests that occurred nationwide during the previous summer. Just a few months after Measure 110 took effect in February 2021, open-air drug use, which had previously been hidden, became more visible. People could be seen sitting in circles in parks or leaning against street signs, smoking crushed fentanyl on tinfoil.
Unfortunately, Oregon’s overdose rates have continued to rise since then. Tent encampments of homeless individuals now line many sidewalks in Portland, while waiting lists for treatment have become increasingly long. Some politicians and community groups are advocating for tougher laws surrounding fentanyl possession, believing that Measure 110 should be replaced. Others, however, argue that the measure simply needs more time and resources to be successful.
The following is a compilation of voices and images that depict the current state of Portland.
Jennifer Myrle, who owns and operates Forte Portland, a coffee shop and wine bar located in the sunken lobby of a commercial building, must navigate through a minefield of needles, broken glass, and human waste on her way to work. Often, she encounters individuals who are passed out, blocking the entrance to her establishment. She describes how the streets can feel like a haven for drug dealers during the afternoon, with numerous people wearing ski masks, hoodies, and backpacks while biking or riding scooters. Despite the chaos, Myrle still enjoys taking walks during her breaks. However, she recalls a disturbing incident where she witnessed a woman performing oral sex on a man in broad daylight on a Tuesday morning. She acknowledges that drug addiction is just one of the numerous societal problems plaguing the city.
Officer David Baer from the Portland Police Bureau patrols downtown on a mountain bike, equipped with a gun, a citation pad, and Narcan, a drug used to reverse overdoses. He spends his shifts arresting dealers carrying large quantities of fentanyl pills, issuing $100 citation tickets to individuals using drugs in public, and administering Narcan to those who have overdosed. The Instagram account of the Portland Police Central Bike Squad showcases such scenes, which have generated significant reactions. Officer Baer shares that he often receives messages suggesting that addicts should be left to die and not be given Narcan. This is particularly challenging for him to read because he interacts with these individuals on a daily basis. He mentions a man named Justin, whom he has helped multiple times. Despite his efforts, Justin has become addicted to fentanyl. Officer Baer’s role also includes issuing Measure 110 tickets, which prohibit drug use in public spaces. However, many individuals become confrontational and believe that drugs are legal. Officer Baer compares drug use to drinking beer in public, emphasizing that although alcohol is legal, it cannot be consumed in public spaces. Despite issuing tickets and providing resources, he often encounters the same individuals using drugs shortly afterward.
Noah Nethers, who lives in a tent on a church fence with his girlfriend, describes Portland as a paradise for homeless drug addicts. He highlights the freedom to use drugs anywhere without harassment from the police. He mentions an increase in drug dealers who are actively searching for new customers. This abundance of drugs has made them more accessible and affordable. However, living in a tent is far from idyllic, especially when neighboring tent dwellers, under the influence of meth, resort to violence. Furthermore, eviction notices have been posted, ordering them to vacate the next day. Noah does not know where he will move next, but he understands that if he does not leave, the police will gather his belongings, store them for a month, and then discard them. He also feels the disdain from homeowners and individuals more fortunate than him, realizing that his situation was once similar to theirs. Despite his dreams of becoming an English teacher and author, his life took a different path due to drug addiction. He has been in and out of rehab multiple times, and his addiction to fentanyl has now taken control of his life. He hopes to find a way to overcome his struggles and change his circumstances.
Solara Salazar, a director at Cielo Treatment Center in Portland, receives approximately 20 inquiries per day regarding rehab services. Unfortunately, the majority of these individuals cannot be accommodated. While Cielo provides outpatient therapy and sober housing, many people in acute crisis require immediate placement in a residential program. Patients covered by Oregon’s Medicaid often have to wait months for a treatment bed. Skipping crucial steps in the recovery process leads to low success rates. Measure 110 was intended to provide enhanced services, funded by marijuana tax revenues. Although over $265 million has been allocated to programs promoting safer drug use and offering support, residential addiction treatment has not seen significant expansion. Critics argue that few individuals who received $100 fines actually sought rehab. Salazar counters this claim, stating that the perception of Measure 110’s ineffectiveness stems from the belief that people do not want treatment, which is simply not true.
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