The number of Oregonians afflicted by drug-related overdoses has been on the rise, reaching a record high in 2022, with fentanyl playing a major role.
The opioid crisis in the state has been ongoing for decades, and Oregon's largest county is taking a controversial approach to provide drug users with tools needed in a harm reduction effort.
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In an effort to reduce the harm that comes from sharing needles or drug tools, leaders in Multnomah County passed controversial measures, allowing for the distribution of tinfoil and straws to fentanyl users at sites across Portland, which were quickly paused.
In Multnomah County, fatal opioid-related overdoses saw an extreme rise from 2018 to 2021, with deaths increasing by 533%, according to data reported by leaders from the Multnomah County Health Department last month.
Officials outlined a set of strategies aimed at reducing the negative health, legal, and social impact associated with drug use during a Multnomah County Board of Commissioners meeting at the end of June.
“Harm reduction is often a topic that is sensationalized or misrepresented in public and media discourse. But make no mistake: The work is not only lifesaving but also a critical way to form trusting, safe relationships with community members who have been otherwise marginalized,” Jessica Guernsey, county public health director, said while giving a presentation on harm reduction tactics.
Despite the Multnomah County Health Department’s plans to move forward with distributing resources at monitored sites, the department paused the measure after receiving backlash from lawmakers and concerned residents.
“Our health department went forward with this proposal without proper implementation protocols,” Multnomah County Chairwoman Jessica Vega Pederson told KGW-TV on Tuesday. “And in that light, I am suspending the program pending further analysis.”
On top of unconventional approaches to lessen the harm from drug use, the state also faces a staffing shortage in the addiction and recovery workforce, causing unprecedented hurdles and wait times for those seeking treatment.
Former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown declared addiction a public health crisis in 2018, ordering the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to create an approach to tackle the issue. The plan, released in 2020, detailed guidelines up to 2025 and pushed for more recovery resources.
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However, despite available funding, a state report from 2022 found that 30% of current jobs in addiction and recovery fields are unfilled.
The troubles in Multnomah County point to a broader issue on a state and national level. According to the Oregon Health Authority, fentanyl and other synthetic opioid deaths rose 83% from 2020 to 2021. The report found the increase in fentanyl-related deaths is particularly alarming among racial minorities, with black people and non-Hispanic American Indians or Alaska Natives at the highest risk of unintentional drug overdoses resulting in death.