MultCo. commissioners criticize revised Measure 110 for lack of treatment requirements
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A plan to get illegal drug users off Portland streets and into treatment may be taking a detour.
Some Multnomah County commissioners have called out the county chair for holding closed-door meetings over implementing the revised Measure 110 — a renewed state law that recriminalizes possession of small amounts of street drugs.
Now they're worried drug users may not be required to get treatment rather than get arrested, as first reported by the Oregonian.
Two commissioners told KOIN 6 News they don't like what has been proposed: letting those caught with drugs not be required to participate in a deflection program. Instead, all they would have to do is check in at a drop-off center — but not have to go through a screening or a treatment program.
Other local counties appear to have a more defined plan for those caught with drugs to get treatment.
County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson has reportedly been meeting with District Attorney Mike Schmidt, the police chief and others to come up with a way to implement House Bill 4002.
The county would have to find a drop-off center to provide services, but county commissioners told KOIN 6 they have been left in the dark.
“I think the assumption by most people was this was actually going to lead to people actually getting access to treatment as an alternative to arrest, but if they didn't want treatment, they were going to be arrested,” Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards said.
Brim-Edwards adds that the current plan, which has yet to be shared publicly, “includes things like an endless revolving door and also not direct access to detox or treatment, which seems very similar to what we had with ballot Measure 110 before it was reformed.”
The commissioners are asking for community input on a plan and said they would have to be part of a vote on funding a drop-off center. Sept. 1 is when counties are expected to have their deflection programs in place to help people get treatment rather than jail time.
KOIN 6 News reached out to Vega Pederson’s office on Wednesday, but did not hear back as it is a state holiday.
A county commission meeting is expected to take place on Thursday.