Is Oregon's controversial drug decriminalization plan working?
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- Опубликовано: 5 мар 2024
- ABC News' Ashan Singh reports on Oregon’s attempt to revolutionize drug policy in the United States.
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As a Canadian driving to Portland to pick up a truck camper.. I was blown away from what I saw . It’s not progressive it’s deteriorating.
That IS Progressive.
Trust me, it's much worse for the addicts
Just like Vancouver BC
That is the plan. Once complete the streets will be refreshed.
@@shirk_slayer No it isn't. If it were worse, they would stop. Perhaps worse in the long term, but certainly not day to day. Worse is the in-and-out of jail so common for people who regularly use.
I mean did they think drug addicts would magically turn their lives around?
Literally, yes. They believe that by having a safe place to shoot up, you're bound to get better somehow. Very interesting way of thinking considering there's no logic behind it.
Their crazed Les B hand governor thought so
I mean there are ways to do this right but its going to take a full overhaul of the system. But yea of course simply turning a blind eye isn't going to help any especially as bad as the drugs on the street are right now. A smarter short term plan would have been to have an internal policy to only charge people with drugs if they are acting a fool and causing problems. But you just know people would try to spin that as racist policing.
😂😂☠️☠️☠️
They never opened the treatment facilities that was part of the plan
Im an Oregonian born and bred. Measure 110 was the worst thing to happen to Oregon. I lost too many people to drug overdoses. I am ex addict and I know that if you allow drug addicts to keep using without consequences then they will happily continue. Some people really do want to quit but there are a lot of people who never want to quit. If you enable them, they will continue. Portland has become a hell hole that I hate with a passion. It was once the beautiful city that I was proud of and never wanted to leave, now I dream of leaving.
That’s because you have lawmakers that do not follow facts, but rather follows popular sentiments. This is sad to hear, but I think Oregon needs to start electing people that are willing to go against popular sentiments (legalizing all drugs) and more with facts
@@larryrios6688 totally agree. I have been hoping for a better oregon but it just keeps getting worse and people keep voting for it! Im done waiting for it to be better but unfortunately its a liberal land.
lol oregon has never been that great , quit lying , a lot of hateful magats up there ,i bet you're one of them
My area is great in Portland. These reports make it out that this is everywhere. It’s not. And a small area at that. Been here since birth. How about all you people that don’t like it, leave. No one is from Portland anymore. That’s the problem.
Go back to where you came from.
How about don't do drugs period?
Don’t Do Drugs
Or vote democrat
Amazing how no one seems to know what’s Right and Wrong anymore. Advocates, acting for drug lords or for countries trying to infiltrate and weaken democratic societies, must be getting hefty benefits to put safety of kids and regular citizens at risk. Once decriminalized more people will try hard drugs, just like weed. It takes ten times the effort and costs to undo an addict, not to mention the amount of broken homes and relationships. Should be lovely to be living in a zombie city. Oddly, all the evil countries threatening war on others do Not allow their citizens to take drugs.
Every time I've ever heard anything about Portland and Oregon in the last 5 years, its been something absolutely next level retärded
I gave you a thumbs up for using umlauts, although I'm not sure why you did. You deserve another for your comment.
You're not wrong there. I live in Portland and it was VERY bad. I literally tried calling 911 for someone committing arson on a building, downtown and did nothing about the criminal because he moved on from where he was. And that common with murder around these parts. Someone is killed, they move on and hardly get found.
But it is clearing up like they say. I love ABC News for transparent reports.
haha there are unsolved murders by homeless that you saw? haha oh god don't exaggerate@@AzureFlameGod1986
@AzureFlameGod1986 you also just described Florida. Quit acting like it's only liberal states. I was almost killed in a hit n run. He fled for a year. Once he was caught he was bonded out immediately. Then absolutely no jail time after trial. This is a very common occurrence here. Why do u think Florida has the highest car insurance rates in the country. There is no accountability anywhere in the US. It's because we are too busy screaming left or right. We cannot move forward.
@@BunnyMan-ec4xgLouisiana has the highest car insurance in America. Your theory is wrong, Red states are growing exponentially as people flee blue states. I've been to Portland many times. The crumbling of a beautiful city is mind blowing. Imagine stepping over homeless and drug needles on the downtown sidewalk. Recently, the flagship REI Pearl District store was forced to close because of endless stealing. It's utter chaos.
As an addict that has been clean for over 30 yrs ,this doesn’t work. Long term rehabilitation is needed. And ! If the person isn’t willing to fight to get clean ,it won’t work.
Absofruitly!
The fact that they can't admit their mistake concerning the Bill makes me furious.
By changing they are admitting otherwise nothing would be done. The War on War failed decades ago….have any bright ideas?
I think the fact that they changed it is an admission.
@JG-MV ah sounds like you're withdrawing, here have another 💉
Don't worry, the taxpayers will continue to fund your degeneracy.
Whenever you make policy changes, it should be understood that the policies may not work as planned or may have unexpected consequences. When new policies have issues, then they should be addressed as soon as possible. The problem is that there are usually 2 sides and if one side admits that their policy may not be working as planned, then the other side will go on the attack, which makes the other side not want to admit that their policies might not be working as planned. The policy of decriminalization is a great policy for a subclass of people. I don't want to charge someone with a criminal drug offense for possessing a small amount of cocaine, especially if that person is a functional member of society and their drug use is not causing harm to others and negligible harm to themselves. We use to charge people for having possession of cannabis (some place still do). That was insane. But we need to have different policies for people that are obviously addicted and that drug use is a major attributor to them being a criminal and homeless. In these cases, watching people shoot up n the street and just ignoring it is not the answer. It made addiction, homelessness increase, not get better.
Thank God they did not blame “THEY”, “Those people”…etc
@@natesbored
>Decriminalize drugs
>Didn’t expand treatment programs
>Didn’t build more housing
>Didn’t improve access to better jobs (education, skilled labor training)
Why didn’t drug decriminalization work???
The U.S. has more treatment programs than all European countries COMBINED. We bend over backwards to help drug addicts. Coddling doesn't work. The European studies didn't take into account that crime was also FALLING in the U.S. during the same time period it fell in Portugal after decriminalization. In other words both countries had FALLING crime rates while implementing 2 different policies. The only difference is Portugal stopped counting certain drug crimes as crime and manipulated their data.
@@rs72098
So drug prohibition is useless.
Can't build more housing when nimbys forbid it.
Prohibition also keeps drugs unsafe and the profits in the hands of the cartels.
@@rs72098show me where u got that info because that’s not true at all Oregon ranks 49th out of 50th for supplying drug treatment…
As an Oregonian…. Thank God, this has been a nightmare! It had good intentions but they went about it in a hair brained way.
It's like they have a good idea and then throw all logic out the window. Most successful ideas include logic
Gawd bless Murica 🤓 🖕
@@terryowen6759
You think this was a good idea
@@terryowen6759
Do you understand what the word logic means
@@firstlast8258
God bless your mother for letting me nut in her
Only half the policy was implemented, the treatment programs never happened.
Exactly.
Fun fact. Drug addicts don't want treatment
Why would you waste money on programs no one will attend or take seriously?
@@grandmaLilithAnd how would you know this if the plan never got implemented because of that same speculation? I could speculate a lot of things to but that does not mean it is reality. Opening up the hardcore drugs was a stupid plan period. Hardcore drugs was already available to those who are looking for it but hard to stay on them 24\7. Now in Oregon it should like you can be on those drugs 24\7 which is bad and stupid.
@@SgtJoeSmith Exactly
By all means, be wishy washy when it comes to the law.
That results in minimal compliance.
Always do things as stupidly as possible.
Just remember the disastrous drug prohibition isn't necessary to enforce order.
Wait... legalizing drugs didn't work out?!? I'm stunned!!!!
Yeah, I thought this is common sense. Where in the world is drug use lowest? In countries with the strictest laws.
People should be able to do whatever they want with their bodies. If people are allowed to drink, why is it illegal to do mdma once a year while camped out in the dunes by a bonfire? It seems unfair to incarcerate non violent "criminals" for something that doesn't hurt anybody, not even the users.
@@emmaswartz4549
@@emmaswartz4549There are so many people who use drugs who are straight arrows with great jobs. Most people who work in tech use drugs for example, most musicians also use drugs. The media never shows up the amazing people of everyday life that use drugs on the week ends or once a month. They show us the drugged out homeless people who act like zombies. While it's a small portion of people who use, seems unfair to only show them.
In Portugal they had a terrible problem with drug addiction and one of the first steps they took was decriminalizing addiction because jailing an addict does nothing, but getting them help does, which is what Oregon has failed at doing
How’s that war on drugs going for ya?
Imagine letting people get addicted then forcing them to quit after a 4 year binge
rude
They did it anyways. There is no evidence decriminalization of drugs made things worse, only that allowing public consumption did.
Not all "revolutionary" ideas are good ideas.
see: capitalism
@@HughJassol_. 🤡
@HughJassol_ it's great, huh
@@HughJassol_ Says the person typing from a device created from capitalism. Keep crying basement dweller.
Hopefully they will keep trying to find the solution, parts of the bill failed, fix what failed
I used to be all for legalizing drugs and letting people figure it out. Unfortunately, people are incapable of figuring it out on their own in enough cases where allowing it has created more suffering for everyone.
There is a difference between decriminalizing possession, and letting people shoot up in the center of downtown with literally no consequences. That's where they went wrong. Using in public still needs to be illegal or it just turns into a nightmare.
The problem with "letting people figure it out" is because they are often so high they don't even know what day it is.
@@weirdshibainu "I was strung out day-to-day. Then, one day, as I was strung out, I thought to myself, 'I want to have a stable life contributing in a positive way to society and my local economy!' *THAT'S* when I decided to instantaneously give up all of my self-harm addictions and apply for all these programs, maybe or maybe not get an education, but ideally an in-demand skill set and even start my own business! If I can do it, you can do it, too!"
----said nobody that ever had a drug addiction to heroine, meth, fentanyl, alcohol...
Not everyone is a drug addict, like 1% of the population turns into addicts. The rest of us should not have to suffer cause of them. If I feel like doing a like of coke, that's my choice
No they have figured it out. They can continue to use no consequences.
Technically, jail is “housing” and comes with a free food.
Jail is not housing. It is a place reserved for the evil men supplying and producing the narcotics.Housing is far cheaper than jail. Jailing people for poverty is a Third World endeavor.
And that "housing" makes you gain a lot of stigma and barred from things in society, like hireability
The most expensive type of “housing”, which is why it makes sense to use that money on drug treatment programs instead.
It's the most expensive method of housing people. We would be better off just providing rooms for homeless people in old office buildings or any other buildings without the need for bars and guards.
@@chrisray1567 Drug treatment is a futile exercise if violent drug cartels are there waiting with fentanyl when addicts exit recovery and rehab is only successful if some form of dignified housing situation is involved. Not garden shacks or gymnasium shelters. Old motels have been used which are near ideal but they need to be staffed and security and law enforcement must be present. The priority is getting rid of the source first and foremost and people need to know it is going to be painful and break a lot of misconceptions about who these people are. They are a dangerous foreign generational gang culture society. Not friends or innocent immigrants.
We moved to Colorado from Portland last year due to the lawlessness and filth of Portland. We were in the middle of 2 different shoots downtown Portland within 2 months before we decide to leave. The people that were shot and didn't die drove themselves to the hospital because it was faster to drive yourself than wait for the ambulance and police to show up. They can change the law but it will not reverse the mess they made for many many years.....
Colorado has he same stuff going on. It's a distribution point for fentanyl made and sold by Mexican drug cartels and it is also a hub for illegal immigration, Real Estate speculation and Gentrification and extreme liberal politics that include over the top gun control and destruction of the middle class.You left Portland so you could live in another version of Portland.
Boohoo. Fenty4L
My last comment was censored. Here's how it works. Corrupt government gets in power people "flock" to and take over city. Real Estate speculation and over crowding happens. Over development starts. Migrants cross the border from Narcos states like Mexico and Honduras to work in construction and service sectors and sling fentanyl creating homelessness and health issues on the streets in cities that have no new tax revenues for services. Millennials stupidly believe drug use is a harmless crime and drug cartels are only down in Mexico not here. Crime continues. Millennials move to escape and find the same recipe is happening where they moved to. Rinse and repeat. Where are you going to go when Colorado tanks?
Yep, the toothpaste is outside the tube now. The criminal element will likely stay in Portland for a while. TCOs are are also likely heavily invested in the area now too, since it brought in so much drug money. You still have many Oregon politicians pushing for decriminalization. They are likely under the influence of TCOs.
So you fled commie Portland for commie Colorado? Ok, clearly some people never learn.
There’s a difference between common sense drug enforcement that understands how to treat drug addiction as a health crisis… and creating legislation that allows junkies and tweakers to run wild on the streets with wanton disregard for the rest of society. I live in Eugene OR and our city is absolutely as bad as Portland (possibly worse because it’s a smaller city). Not only have these choices led to this becoming a place most would never want to raise children or a family… it’s opened the door to an absolute flood of fentanyl… honestly I don’t even think people here use heroin anymore it’s all meth and fentanyl!
Yours is the most sensible comment I've read so far. I live on the other side of the world but I've seen so many videos of the 'zombies' on the streets of Portland. It's unbelievable that it's taken this long for something to change.
My boyfriend, Bob Bowers, grew up in Eugene when it was an absolute perfect, idyllic place to live and raise a family. I never thought he leave. Why leave paradise? I live in Texas, and while there are good things, it's far from idyllic. In 2021, at the start of the pandemic, he said he would get accosted by homeless people and junkies every time he left his apartment. Some of these junkies would sleep in the stairwell outside his door. There were a few times the encounters got physical. He called the cops, but no one would ever show. Bob has had a super tough life. He doesn't need or deserve this. It was super stressful. June 4, 2022. Bob sold/gave away his stuff, packed the remaining stuff in his bags, got on a plane to Texas and has never looked back. Say what you want about the f*cked up politics Texas has, and I wholly agree, but we don't have homeless junkies rampant in streets. I can also say that Texas seems to have "common sense" drug enforcement where law enforcement and judges make the final call on a case-by-case basis, not our legislators making sweeping laws for all. I'm saddened for what our world has become. I have mad respect for these folks who are working the streets helping. What's the answer to the problem? I think it's somewhere between Oregon and Texas.
@NitaCostello you stay because the politics are better! Y'all are gonna turn it into the same shithole of you don't change and vote common sense. Thers a reason the west coast is moving to red states, blue politics lead to all the problems they're running from
It's sad. I ran into even in Madison, WI. It's all around - my cousin even had a meth baby. She is forever lost. 😢
If just ONE PERSON who expressed withering condemnation for progressive measures to address the rise in population and especially _displaced_ individuals, showed _any_ awareness of the greater world beyond " the good old days," we'd sit up and take notice. In fact that person does not exist, because if you actually DID go out into the world, you'd see how much better you _still_ have it, than the rest of humanity. Everybody takes homelessness and overpopulation as a personal insult, but has no problem raising 5 children.
I wouldn't be surprised the problems persist. It wasn't the decriminalizing of drugs that caused all this. It was the decriminalizing of theft and violent crime. Did they fix that?
Edit: Portugal's had a successful program for 20 years. Oregon's government should probably have consulted them before taking on the process of drug decriminalization.
They're both related. You can't legalize selling poison and expect it to work.
@@rs72098alcohol and tobacco is already legalized
Well, Portland Police Bureau is still refusing to do their jobs because people don't love them enough, so...
where can i commit violent crime? why would the violence be called crime if its legal?
@@phukrnd840 Germany, most recent incident I heard. 23-year-old Afghan refugee went there and R**ed several girls including a 16-year-old and was let go.
I know you're being sarcastic, and maybe you're not. Maybe you are just a terrible person
Politicians always want to take the easy way out.
Spend taxpaper money on programs which will employ their cronies
it's the dumb woke imbeciles that put them there. Politicians don't vote themselves in
Which is mostly doing nothing
Especially democrats. “Democrats did this”, amongst!
Democrats did this
Politicians responsible for this crisis won't admit that they caused this mess up. Now they beat around the bush when trying to answer questions related to the crisis they caused.
you have a lot to learn if you think Politicians are the ones making such decisions.
@@asahel980 You apparently don't know much. They make a career in Portland running studies and keeping the problem from being fixed or improved. Easier to have something to run on.
@@packergeek10 IQ much? or youre just a bot?
This is literally everywhere, not just Portland. Were you born in the 2000s? Politicians have been making promises that never hold since the dawn of time@@packergeek10
@@asahel980 just for learning purposes would you care to explain? I was under the same impression so I have the same learning to do
As a former libertarian, I appreciate the lessons learned from this experiment
Well said hopefully this work will be reference elsewhere
Why aren't all the alcoholics in jail
Many/most alcoholics are dead, dying, or in jail. Unlike weed and a few other exceptions (usually more natural things like shrooms, powder cocaine) there is no occasional recreational user. Someone on meth or crack is not a functional person who just lights up after work.
🤣
If you decriminalising weed its one thing decriminalising meth is completely different a weed addict is generally harmless where as a meth or heroin addict are generally very mentally unconnected from their actions and often very violent
Define "harm."
no ish it should be obvious right?
Not true
Alcohol is the one that seems to cause the most mental disconnect and violence
I disagree with this entire comment and wording of it. You can’t just generalize so much about drugs and users. Particularly when it comes to one specific drug over another because most users are polyaddicts. The combination of different drugs could cause different rates of harm.
Maybe force them into rehab through sentencing? Instead of criminally charging them so they can get a job in the future. That way don’t land back on the street.
Doesn’t work
Just being charged with a crime is often enough for employers to not hire someone. Not just convictions.
That’s what they wanted but never opened up any centers or offered any help, the services were never created.
All open drug use says is, 'We have given up'. Giving an addict a grocery bag full of clean needles, is not compassion, it's not treatment, it's a way to abdicate responsibility BACK to the addict, who can't make rational decisions in the first place.
I’m for the idea of jail or treatment and if treatment is chosen then the charge goes away. The bigggest issue that causes people to relapse is the fact that once you have a drug charge it’s really hard to find a good job and you end up in a nasty cycle of depression and poverty .
I thought it was just a great idea to force pedestrians to look at every step they take while walking so they don't end up with a needle puncturing their feet, or maybe infecting tire technicians with "who knows what" if they happen to change a tire with a syringe needle sticking out from the tread.
@RodRessell - You make a fair point. But at least clean needles reduce the transmission of HIV, hepatitis, and other blood borne diseases. It’s a good start but I agree it’s not the full solution.
@@Error_404-F.cks_Not_Found
Just remember that removing addicts from the street doesn't require the disastrous drug prohibition.
What an unpredictable outcome. Who could’ve guessed?
I can't wait till they re criminalize it in take people to jail for using a substance even though alcohol is perfectly legal and then the problem still doesn't get any better
I can't wait till they re criminalize it in take people to jail for using a substance even though alcohol is perfectly legal and then the problem still doesn't get any better
Born and raised in Oregon and I refuse to go downtown unless I am forced to see a doctor down there. It is appalling and terrifying. What used to be the cool “weird” place is now covered in trash, tents and people using drugs in the open. It’s a hellhole no one wants and our politicians have done NOTHING to take care of the homelessness or anything else. It’s devastating and would warn everyone not to go downtown Portland.
And my heart goes out to people who are battling addiction,addiction is horrible.
They did it to themselves and the bill increased users because more tried it because it was legal DUH
@@silentmajority8365 you need to have a heart,especially the ones coming off!!!!!
As someone that lives in oregon I’ve watch it turn into a nasty /unsafe place to be. Please bring back consequence
Consequences don't require drug prohibition, that is a disastrous policy.
110 would only work if they increased the amount of clinics and shelters and dealt with the eviction crisis. I used to live there. Other places did this successfully bit they had infrastructure to help people get off the streets.
Name those places.
The places that did decrim successfully (Europe) did not legalize using in public places. If you used in public, you were arrested, and faced with mandatory rehab, or jail, your choice. That works. This doesn't. There is a difference between decriminalizing possession, and legalizing blatantly using in front of everyone.
I can't wait till they recriminalize it and take people to jail for using a substance even though alcohol is perfectly legal, and then the problem still doesn't get any better
@@geometerfpv2804 There also needs to be a lot more construction approvals to reduce homelessness. High rises in the suburbs need to be approved too to increase supply.
The Police officer nailed it " I just work here". This is how 90 percent of us feel today.
They sure know how to take an existing problem, then guide that problem to get as bad as it can get. Then scratch your head.
They still think they are doing the right thing
I can't wait till they re criminalize it in take people to jail for using a substance even though alcohol is perfectly legal and then the problem still doesn't get any better
Lol. What a complete mess. Without any plan whatsoever just allowing people to use drugs and sleep on the streets..
Thats Liberalism for ya...lots of latitudes and platitudes but no solutions. I mean what did Oregon think was gonna happen?
@@raywells2858red states lead the country in child poverty. There's conservatism for ya. Why are all American white supremacy groups conservative, btw?
@@raywells2858 eh the real mess is that they think going back to a 50 year failed war on drugs is somehow going to do any better. Things weren't any better here before measure 110 passed
That is an inaccurate statement. There was a plan. Not a good one in my opinion but the measure did think people would magically go to rehab.
@@raywells2858Don't be ignorant. They were supposed to implement treatment programs and that didn't happen. When you build a building out of siding and shingles, of course it's going to blow apart in the wind. Doing the thing that didn't work before (Portland has always been a drug-use and homelessness mess), what do you think will happen?
Newsflash: homelessness and crime has radically increased EVERYWHERE in the country. Even those with harsh drug laws. Correlation ≠ causation.
I love Oregon, but not Portland.
Tina Kotex caused legal drugs
@@silentmajority8365*Kate Brown
@@moneyteam1333 They both liquor
and Tina Kotex was in on the drug law
Progressive often means Regressive
Indeed. Legalize drugs but forbid drug use in public places. Legalize dense housing in the suburbs to tackle the housing crisis.
~ Its just like Sf... U ain’t helping these people ... U just killing em...
They killing themselves. Weak minded....
And started an epicenter of diseases pandemic.
Shocker! Letting druggies do drugs on the street and safe spots isn’t a good idea.
Look at the War on Drugs….failed decades ago…nothing new! We all know what should be done, but investing in our citizens goes against Corpocracies! We must subsidies oil and gas, big pharma and wars…………..Do you have any ideas?
People have been using drugs for as long as they have known about them, you think laws are going to stop the use of them?
@@travelinman790they'll stop them doing it out in the open
@@travelinman790The difference is it was not allowed out in the open on streets in front of children and allowed to take over in public spaces like parks and side walks and throughout the community affecting the quality of life for those who choose not to live a life of addiction.
@@travelinman790
Of course not. But laws do cut back on usage a lot.
She says we are in a housing crisis/addiction crisis. We are in an accountability crisis, people aren't accountable for their actions and don't pull their own weight. And we as as society sit there and provide safety nets for these individuals. It's time to cut the cord - hold people accountable, no more welfare programs to be abused by people who will never try to do better.
Yep it is not the pharmacy that pushes the most addictive drugs as a pain killer insisting it is a good pain killer when it is not. The best pain killer is your own mind which you have to go through the pain to understand. Housing crisis is just idiots refusing to relocate to a new area. Sometimes relocating is the best answer. Yet fear of the unknown is what prevents people from getting better. I half agree with you as "never" is a stupid idea in itself.
Housing is a crisis for working families not just drug addicts. Single mothers are under tremendous pressure.
@@minisithunknown5568most the people on the streets in Portland aren’t even from Oregon .. they moved here to be homeless and to do drugs .
You can preach all you want about safety nets but those safety nets are for everyone and they're for your own protection. Take those away and what do you think happens in today's society? Ever thought it all the way through?
Then take accountability for what you've done to your country. People like you think locking up people will get rid of all your criminals and yet there still here ? Maybe take accountability for YOUR actions before preaching about someone else
Mor…. -o n s ! Why did they de-criminalize it in the first place!!!
Because democrats think enabling adiction is a treatment for addiction.
De mo cra ts think problems will be solved if you enable them to get worse.
They should be held to account for their own policies that FAILED.
Addiction can't be punished away...
But you can dry them out in jail and made to work
@@silentmajority8365that doesn't fix the problem 🤦🏻 We would like productive members, not incarcerated ones who will likely return to drug of choice and department of corrections
@@SirDydimus86 They have to be off the streets in jail or an institution
Look at old pictures of American cities 50 70 years ago
Oh we had the same people the difference was we did not let them interfere with the lawful
We had vagrancy laws
We arrested drug addicts
We ordered non voluntary treatment
We let cops do their jobs
We enforced immigration
We locked up he insane
You want them running loose and unlimited resources to babysit the miscreants
Covid and the border proves we don't have unlimited resources
SirDydimus96
We did not have this problem till we stopped
arresting drug addicts and vagrants
enforcing immigration
Society is for the lawful
We had vagrancy laws and court ordered drug treatment
This problem is growing because you made it easy to be a
BLIM
a criminal
or insane in public
*Permissiveness and turning a blind eye to crime doesn't work!*
Using isn't a crime. Knowingly selling an addictive substance is the crime.
@@johnthompson6374It's difficult for police to make that determination. Many users are also dealers, and sell on the side to fund their own drug habits.
@@johnthompson6374
What a silly difference. They're one and the same. You can't use without a dealer and a dealer can't stay a dealer without users.
@@MrNote-lz7lh NO! One is taking advantage of a sick person and the other is being taken advantage of. What's wrong with you?
Who could’ve seen this coming?
Normal people
recriminalize it after people are addicted? Just criminalize selling it, not using it. youre just going to have addicts sitting in jail and more of the cycle. Dont allow it to be sold.
Selling has always been a crime. The problem is that we decriminalized use without having the other half of the solution (rehab resources/harm reduction/housing) in place. And it’s a real problem, addicts flocked here from across the country, making the quantification of said resources a moving target. The number of overdose deaths are hideous.
@@sweetsugarjones "without having the other half of the solution"
Wow, who could possibly have anticipated that being a problem? smh
@@clickrick The fact of the matter is that we did contract and pay reputable business entities for the other half of the solution and they failed. Fentanyl use increased dramatically everywhere. Housing is an issue everywhere. You can’t lock up addicts for life and the courts are already overburdened and costly. What’s your solution, or are you focused solely on blaming anyone who tries? Do you think you can fix it with the power of sarcasm?
So you'd rather a addict keep using? Lol whut
Look at the War on Drugs….failed decades ago…nothing new! We all know what should be done, but investing in our citizens goes against Corpocracies! We must subsidies oil and gas, big pharma and wars…………..
Who could have seen this coming!?
“Treat” drug addiction by allowing MORE drug use! Really??
It's because the war on drugs has been a disaster. It keeps drugs unsafe and in the hands of cartels.
That Haven chick looks nuts.. and she was one of the writers? Explains everything!
She has to justify her existance
You can't even call these people lawmakers anymore.
Enablers
I’m sure the States where drug possession is illegal are doing fine. O wait…
Sometimes I think the Purge movie had a bit of a good point.
they done goofed
That’s an understatement, my friend!
There are drug addict homeless people everywhere all over southern Oregon too not just Portland . These people are being enabled to stay in their addiction and live on the streets. It’s pathetic
The decriminalization model only works if you equally bolster Healthcare and addiction services as well. You can't just legalize drugs and do nothing else, that's not how any other country has done this successfully.
Its never worked here an you can't compare other smaller countries with smaller populations less freedoms and different demographics
Drugs have never improved anybody's life
loss of life loss of family loss of job etc
Exactly
@@JJ_Smilez Exactly not
legal increases users
By your logic give everybody a gun and offer safety classes lol
So, they are surprised that people doing self-harm to their nervous systems and endocrine systems...does...harm!?
I reside in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC. I go to Tacoma,WA in December to visit family. We sometimes go to Portland Oregon for various reasons. Let me tell you, I’m afraid. In my mind I’m gonna get jabbed with a dirty needle somehow.
I don’t think DC is this bad. The voters are having buyers remorse so it’s time to do what needs to be done. However it’s gonna take some time to reverse the damage. Yes it was there before the measure but the measure exacerbated the problem.
Cost of owning a home and other wealth inequality issues have also been a trend.
Not related to drug use
Lazy crazy take drugs not people wanting families and jobs
A group of friends and I went up to Oregon last year, stayed one night in Seattle. We walked from our hotel to a nearby restaurant, noticed several public parks closed with chain-link fences to keep the homeless out. We also noticed so many needles on the sidewalks. The women in our group decided not to wear open toed shoes it’s a nice city but not go back until they clean it up.
Seattle is in Washington. Did you mean Portland?
@@azcatlover "Nambia. You know what I mean!"
or homie possibly failed geography class.
Tbf, maybe they're not from the US and just aren't away of the states and cities within them.
Seattle = Washington
Portland = Oregon
law and order imagine that what a revolutionary idea
What has the War Drugs started under President Nixon has accomplished?
I don't know anything about Oregon, but I assume it has to do with an increase in crime and overdoses.
The dope fiends are totally out of control and a horde of Honduran illegals openly sell fentanyl in public. They gather in large groups and you can easily find where they are because all the fiends will gather around them with unending lines. It’s a crazy sight to behold.
Soft on crime here in OR because empathy is a democratic trait. We should never be this soft on dangerous crime. It is better than what the other side does. They lock you up. Democrats have more humanity and compassion.
Crime overall hasn’t increased. Its been the homeless and open drug use. The measure was naive that people would go to rehab on their own and it did nothing for homelessness.
"Create enough hunger and everyone becomes a criminal"
Crime is what happens when people can't afford homes, education or healthcare
I'm a recovering addict from heroin been clean for 7 years and in my opinion y'all letting people use out in the open is wrong
Nothing in this country will ever change until the root of these problems is addressed. MENTAL HEALTH!
Does this mean everyone should be in therapy?
As a drug counselor it's rare to meet someone in treatment who hasn't had a lot of emotional trauma, especially child abuse and sexual assault.
Why is it not working out??
They allowed public use of drugs. That failed and some people want the failed war on drugs back even though it isn't needed to remove addicts from the street.
If you save a few, the few will save many ❤!!!! God bless Dan 😊
Politicians STOPPED accepting responsibility for FAULTY legislation like Oregon's Drug Proliferation Bills after the Iraq war. ❤️🙏
Harm reduction is goddamn lame. All it does is destroy communities.
So, decriminalizing drugs stopped making someone money? Hence the change?
There are other countries that have seen some success with decriminalizing drugs, but plans and infrastructure were made to support that action. You can’t say let’s decriminalize drugs then have no real plan in place to support that action. Of course it’s going fail…
careful, you're asking for too much nuance than this comment section can muster lol
Well move there because it won't work here
There is no good drug use
People can't hold jobs or raise families addicted to drugs no matter the infrastructure
Exactly 💯. There needs to be support services and harm reduction in addition to decriminalization
The U.S. has more drug rehabilitation centers than all of Europe COMBINED. We have more issues because we have a drug culture, close proximity to drug production in central America, higher GDP per capita, a younger population, a larger population and so many other factors.
Oregon just legalized drugs without creating the social services necessary to help people. Very different than what Portugal did.
End the drug war.
USA is probably the only country in the world, where its citizens actively avoid going to downtown area of their major cities unless it is absolutely necessary. I am currently in east Asia, and this phenomenon is unthinkable in this part of the world.
The USA are tough and free people. No other country in the world is even close to as tough and free and rich and smart. We are by far the most innovative. The world follows us like puppy dogs and that is the truth. World leader way ahead.
When your country makes it to the smartest freest country the world has ever known you let me know. Hilarious.
i mean let's not dump on them, they tried
i lived in Portland for two years
the problem is dealers everywhere and expensive recovery options
I had a GF addict, she had ZERO options she could afford
At some point progress becomes regression into an apocalytic distopia
Was gonna say, if laws don't change, this is gonna be a wasteland in 10 years.
Can any country ever stop drug trafficking? I mean did we lose and always lose the drug war??
Fighting the drug war is its own racket. That's why it's never won and never will be.
Recreational drug users and people that were sick of soo much drug related crime and policing were dupped into voting for something that increased all of the issues in turn for a string of very profitable new outreach and legal buy businesses.
None of these businesses and gov./donation funded programs could work or exists without the junkies.....
No businesses exist without exploiting money off some group of people.
“A cautionary tale on drugs” Oregon’s new state motto!
You better wake tfu cause the federal, state , county government they are trying to replace original Americans that means the redneck whites , the whites who have become a homeless person, veteran ,most are disabled and last a crackhead / Herion / Meth and fentanyl. They found out they rather for Americans to smoke weed because the other drugs are killing Americans citizens . China 🇨🇳 has the chemicals and Mexico is 🇲🇽 running the human market for illegal immigrants entering the US , .South Americans are making a fortune 💰 off the deaths & tragedies of Americans .
I thought it was “I’m not gay but $20 is $20 and I need $35”
Most people don’t care about people who have drug addictions if they’re locked up in jail and out of sight. When the scope of the problem becomes visible, everybody is up in arms. What does that say about the society we live in?
No treatmemt centers were opened. Im concerned that people think the policy is a failure when it was never fully attempted.
This is interesting. have you thought about doing forced rehab? So instead of going to prison, you force them to go to rehab for a year. So it's not really prison and punishment, but ultimately its beneficial. I mean, it's no different than forced psychotherapy lol
If you reverse the legislation, they end up going to jail anyways. resources are still spent.
How is forced rehab any different that involuntary hospitalization for suicide.
@michaelyoon9355
Involuntary hospitalization is good for the society overall
Giving junkies needles = harm reduction? Portland is insane.
Yes giving clean needles reduces harm. Your problem is?
@@squatch545 he probably lives in some small town and has no idea what life in the rest of the world is like.
It doesn't encourage drug use. They are going to get the drug in the vein whether clean or dirty it doesn't matter. Might as well give them some clean ones and maybe cut down on the disease a little bit.
It stops the spread of disease from used needles
yup, the hair color around here is blue or green or pink and purple lmao
Oregon lawmakers: "You know that thing that didn't work before? Let's try it again!"
The failure here was decriminalization without intervention. People need help. Jail is one option, but these people aren't criminals just because they're using drugs. This amounts to ruining people's lives with a criminal record just because they used or possess small amounts of drugs.
Enabling hard drug use in any way is not beneficial to the individual or society. Forced rehabilitation, no on street open drug use. But don’t criminalise it. Incarceration is not the answer.
Because criminalizing drugs worked so well the first time. How did that war on drugs go?
Americans are fine with building ten thousand more prisons...
Canada is essentially doing this, and has been for three decades in some areas, BUT along with that gives what amounts to a de facto "Guaranteed Annual Income". Canada with a low population and digital tracking can DO that, but the USA??? Past the tipping point and several extra "issues" that add impossible layers to the problem. AND 3 decades late.
Give me a BREAK! Canada is a complete and total socialist failure! Their addicts are now offered suicide! What do you think of that commie?
Say what? Something isn't working? How about their brains?
Home is not a place. It is an environment that can sustain you. If you do not have the skills to sustain you in a conventional way something else takes its place. The pains of need are relieved by opioid pain control substances. Whether it is the pains of sickness, injury, exposure to harsh elements or hunger.
An environment is a place.
Another stupid idea. Addiction begins with a choice, then the drug of choice chooses you. As a chronic pain patient, I sometimes wish I was an addict.Billions are thrown at addicts every year yet chronic pain patients get zilch. Doesnt seem fair to us.Pain definitely chose us, but we dont get a choice in our medications, sadly. We have been abandoned, we have been criminalised.
Then just go do something harder for pain relief, you can still become an addict if you try hard enough
You’re probably just as much a pathetic junkie when you can’t get your pain meds as a meth addict when they can’t find theirs. Stop trying to make yourself better than others ya weirdo. Karen activities. “Those addicts chose to do it I was given meds, I’m special and different and not an addict addict.” 🤡 🤓
Some people have chronic pain and no other way to get any medication for it. The US isn't known for helping its citizens with health care, you know?
You just can't demonize people attempting to medicate that have no access to a doctor.
Also, if you need pain medicine every day- whether it is prescribed by a doctor or not- then you are addicted to that medicine.
So congratulations 🎊 you are an addict! You just have a little government paperwork that says you're allowed to be an addict because a doctor approved of it
And remember, we are all 2 or 3 bad decisions away from becoming the ones we fear and pity
If you lose weight you'll feel better
Go to a methadone clinic then?
In KY, we have the first building in America that includes multiple support services plus harm reduction services. One place to go. It makes sense and I hope to see it catch on across the nation.
Make it a felony! Detox in prison!
They need to enforce strict public intoxication and littering laws so they can stay off the streets and keep the cities clean while they can still tweak in private. Americans should be free to consume whatever we want, but we should also keep cities clean and safe!!
Addiction and the homelessness are not fixed by legislation. They are fixed only if the mental health issues are addressed and families start to take accountability for the chronic dysfunctions in which they raise their kids. It is the same as lazy parents who don't help their kids with academics. They expect the schools to do it all. The solution is definitely not locking addicts up as criminals, unless they are committing crimes to support their addictions.
We have laws against public drinking but when drugs are legalized we don't have laws against public use.
People wouldn’t need the help, if they didn’t start using in the first place. Just say no, it’s very simple.
be denser
If people aren't on one substance or another these days that's an accomplishment in itself. Don't be blaming anyone who wants an escape from reality.
Wow man glad you have it all figured out! Problem solved.
People should be able to ingest or consume whatever they chose, in the comfort of their own home.
Agree, as long as they don’t loose jobs, become homeless, start living on the streets, depend on government for shelter, food, healthcare.
That's the thing. They can't afford their homes once they become addicted. Not to mention some drugs drive people to do irrational things such as crime. Sorry, but no, I believe that is a terrible idea. Most countries in the world strictly forbid "hard" drugs and for good reason.
Or on the sidewalk in front of your house
@@sasquatch7234 - cannot afford? That depends on the price though, doesn't it?
@@JanBruunAndersen Not if they can't perform their job and get fired because they are an addict or they spend most of their money on drugs and not on their own home.
It’s amazing how much compassion people have when the addict looks like them.
yup, these are mostly white folks
Problem is that the infrastructure was not in place to do this.
As an Oregonian - The state did not follow through with the plan which left the idea dead in the water. There was supposed to be robust reform to drug treatment and prevention. The people VOTED to decriminalize drugs so that people could get help and not prison. Instead, the state was too slow to put plans and procedures in place to support and the police wanted the measure to fail from the start. Instead of repealing the measure, the state should have repurposed funds to following through with the initial plan. The fact that a measure voted on by the people is being repealed without a vote is nuts.
San Francisco, Seattle, Portland - ultra liberal cities aren’t a place to raise a family because there’s rampant crime and drug use. Do we really want families sharing the sidewalk with fentanyl addicts ?
So don't raise a family there. Its a big country.
Look at the War on Drugs….failed decades ago…nothing new! We all know what should be done, but investing in our citizens goes against Corpocracies! We must subsidies oil and gas, big pharma and wars…………..
@@stlsensimillaexactly, thank you. There are a lot of single people without kids. I don't want to live around children.
Plenty of rural republican areas have the same drug problems. West Virginia comes to mind. Out of the 10 top states for drug use, 6 are Republican. As for crime, you think things are hunky dory in republican states? Out of the 10 top states for crime, 6 are solidly republican. States in New England, a solidly Democratic bloc, account for 4 out the 5 safest states. Just give it a rest with the tired conservative talking point of the “bogeyman liberal cities”
They hate facts and the truth! I live in Or age Moses Land, Louisiana . The crime and drugs here are out of control, teen pregnancy, illiteracy and posterity…we are the second worst state of the Union for everything!@@bndergltd3053
Decriminalization is moot if the junkie still has to borrow, beg, or steal for their next fix. If the addicts had access to a controlled amount of their drug of choice, then they could establish some sort of routine. Once they have been able to have an established routine, then they'd probably be more open to trying treatment.
The bigger part that's missing is treating drug use as an illness crisis and not stigmatizing people but helping them. Simply making drugs legal will otherwise result in a decaying society... like you see
It took me a few heart surgeries before I even thought about recovery..2 years and 7 months clean today🙏🙏 for the addict who still suffers
You Cannot Control Drugs Once It Has Been Introduced To The Streets Of Society. You Can Only Make Certain Areas Too Hot To Participate In That Type Of Activity.