Oregon: The Nation’s #1 Narco State
A list of Oregon’s highs and lows relating to the rest of the nation in regard to drug addiction and mental health policy performance.
Photo Credit - Tara Faul
Tualatin, Ore. - Measure 110 was passed by the voters in 2020 to decriminalize illicit drugs. The measure was funded by the Drug Policy Alliance, a George Soros funded NGO based in New York. The group made hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations to Democrat politicians and spent millions to lie to Oregonians on TV about the predicted outcome decriminalization. After four years of death and destruction, Democrat and Republican lawmakers passed HB 4002 which further increased spending for treatment and homeless services. It also forces counties to operate “deflection” centers in which drug addicts are dropped off without the requirement of treatment. In other words, they can walk right back out. And that’s exactly what they do.
Today, “Oregon has the highest rate of drug use in the nation and the lowest access to treatment in the nation” - Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). The following is a list of Oregon’s drug addiction and mental health rankings compared to the rest of the nation.
Oregon ranks #1 in illicit drug use disorder.
Oregon' ranks #5 in alcohol use disorder.
Oregon ranks #2 in past year substance use disorder.
Oregon ranks #50 in access to treatment.
Oregon ranks #1 on annual increase of fentanyl overdose deaths. KOIN News
Oregon ranks #2 in population with any mental illness.
Oregon ranks #3 in population with serious mental illness.
Oregon ranks #1 methamphetamine use.
Oregon ranks #1 Rx opioid abuse.
Oregon ranks #2 in population with thoughts of suicide in the past year.
Oregon passed Measure 110 in 2020 to decriminalize possession of illicit drugs. “In fact, Measure 110 was crafted in a way that allowed those who needed help to avoid treatment” - Newsweek. Those found with illicit drugs are to be given a ticket and phone number to call to get help with their addiction. However, 99% of all those who have received tickets chose not to get help. “It’s almost as if people addicted to drugs make poor decisions.” - The Federalist. The combination of decriminalization and Oregon’s immigration sanctuary status has led to an influx in cartel activity throughout Oregon. Not only are our metro areas riddled with drug activity, but so are our small towns.
Measure 110 was “sold” to the voters as a means of providing money for treatment. However, when the measure was passed into law, no money was appropriated by the Senate (under Senate President Rob Wagner) for treatment. Later, in 2021, money was appropriated, but that money was distributed under questionable circumstances. “While the money sits unused, Oregonians are dying of overdoses at ever higher rates” - Willamette Week. Between 2020 and 2021 fentanyl overdoses increased by 600%.
In the 2024 short legislative session, Democrats in the Oregon legislature passed HB 4002 to “recriminalize” illicit drugs. While it makes drug possession misdemeanor, it creates a county requirement for “deflection” in which police officers drop off drug users at deflection centers and they can turn-around and walk back out.
To understand the reality on the streets of Portland and throughout the Portland Metro Area, I highly recommend you follow independent reporter Kevin Dahlgren and photographer Tara Faul on X.
