Oregon’s Landmark Drug Decriminalization Law Not Resulting in Much Treatment … Yet
Hazelden Betty Ford’s Heidi Wallace Reflects
When Oregon decriminalized possession of personal-use amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs in 2020, lawmakers also committed to dedicate millions of dollars to support more addiction treatment. However, as the Oregonian reports, “few people have requested the services and the state has been slow to channel the funds.”
Heidi Wallace, vice president of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Northwest Region and a longtime addiction treatment leader in the Portland area, was asked for her perspectives by Gary Enos of Alcohol & Drug Abuse Weekly.
GARY: To what degree thus far has Oregon’s Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act improved linkages to substance use treatment for individuals in need?
HEIDI: We haven’t seen any patients who have come to us as a result of the linkages promised by Measure 110, and we’re hearing similar things from our fellow treatment providers. Most of us are experiencing workforce shortages too, so even if more linkages were happening, it would be difficult to keep up with the demand.
GARY: What kinds of improvements could be made to the act in order to improve treatment engagement?
HEIDI: Oregon needs to invest more in the behavioral health workforce. Our treatment system doesn’t have enough capacity as it is. Additionally, I think there needs to be more direct communication and collaboration between treatment providers and the outreach and assessment services created by the law. The system has to be very intentionally designed to facilitate effective education, intervention and service coordination. We certainly want to be part of that solution.
GARY: What other effects has drug decriminalization had in the state, at this point?
HEIDI: With funding processes and accountabilities just now getting worked out, it’s too early to know the long-term impact of this law, and I think we’ll continue to learn a lot along the way. The need, of course, is urgent. We remain hopeful and eager to be part of the solution. While we have concerns about commercializing substances and putting public health in the hands of advertisers and profit-makers, we support decriminalization and the thrust of treating substance use disorders as a health issue rather than a criminal justice issue. We also support expanded harm-reduction efforts enabled by the law. Now, it’s time to also make sure we expand treatment options for people who seek support for their substance use and are looking for abstinence-based recovery, which we know can lead to transformative change for individuals, families and the community. Oregon needs more services throughout the continuum of care.
This was originally published for Hazelden Betty Ford’s monthly Recovery Advocacy Update. If you’d like to receive our advocacy emails, subscribe today.
