Health officials in Portland, Oregon, announced last week that they would begin distributing aluminum foil, straws, and vaping kits to drug addicts throughout the city.
As part of that,harm reduction program“, Multnomah County Health Department It announced on Friday that drug paraphernalia will be provided to those using fentanyl and other hard drugs. coin 6 report.
The increase in fentanyl has reduced the need for needle-focused “harm mitigation” services, department spokeswoman Sarah Dean said. Willamette Week. Because fentanyl is smoked rather than injected, clinic visits have dropped 60% since 2019, Dean said. (Related: Biden’s drug czar truly believes in giving addicts more drugs)
The program is endorsed by Multnomah County Public Health Director Jessica Guernsey, who said, “What’s new about this program is that we’re adding supplies for people who smoke drugs.” .
Some people are not happy with the move.
“This erroneous approach poses a huge public safety risk to people who just want to enjoy the city without walking through the toxic fumes,” said Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. Stated. “Our communities would benefit more from using county funds to urgently increase treatment and sobriety facilities rather than actively enabling this deadly epidemic.”
Dean countered the mayor’s remarks, arguing that providing drug paraphernalia did not increase drug use, but rather encouraged drug use among addicts. visit the clinic where they can access fentanyl test strips And an antidote for overdose, Narkanreported by KOIN6.
#new: The Multnomah County Health Department plans to distribute aluminum foil and straws to fentanyl smokers in Portland, officials confirmed. https://t.co/ePEbKm0Xil
— KOIN News (@KOINNews) July 8, 2023
According to Willamette Week, the Oregon legislature recently passed a bill that would decriminalize the distribution of “drug paraphernalia” for the purpose of harm reduction. Similar programs have been launched in Washington and California. New York City recently installed vending machines with smoking kits and bubble pipes, the paper reported.
An Oregon bill to decriminalize the distribution of drug paraphernalia sits on Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk awaiting signature before becoming law. new york post report.
