Sen. Bonham: County aims to bypass new drug law

Local county seeks to circumvent recent law to recriminalize certain drug crimes
By Oregon State Senator Daniel Bonham:

Recent reports found that a Multnomah County group of elected officials, treatment experts, a defense lawyer and county staffers are drafting the county’s plan to reroute people found with drugs like fentanyl toward a diversion center – a direct rebuff of recent legislation to create more accountability for drug users.

First, it is glaring to me there are no law enforcement professionals on this initial planning panel – the very people working in our communities every day. Next, the group moved did not initially allow public comment as the plan is being drafted, which is also very unsettling.

As a reminder, the Oregon legislature this past session voted to give more tools to law enforcement to hold drug users accountable and ensure they get the help they need. This was after the crushing rise in human suffering and overdoses prevalent in our communities.

This behind-closed-door plan by Multnomah officials will include opening a “deflection center” on the east side of Portland which will give people a choice between arrest or going to the center – which will remove the criminal justice incentive to actually get treatment.

The planning committee has not indicated how many times the individual can refuse treatment before they allow law enforcement to intervene.

As I have said before, when someone is struggling with addiction – providing them an out is not helping them, it is enabling them. It makes our communities less safe for our residents AND those struggling with addiction.

There was a haphhazard community meeting held previously, that provided “more questions than answers”. I hope Multnomah county officials change course, but at least allow the public to weigh in further on these critical decisions affecting their communities. Stay tuned.