New Study Shows Decriminalization Did Not Cause Spike in Oregon's Overdose Deaths—the Fentanyl Wave Caused It

Jeffrey A. Singer

In a blog post earlier this year, I lamented the decision by Oregon lawmakers to roll back Measure 110, a ballot proposition that Oregon voters passed in November 2020 decriminalizing drug use and possession while expanding access to harm reduction and addiction treatment services.

Measure 110 went into effect in February 2021, when COVID-19 pandemic policies and bureaucratic delays blocked harm reduction and treatment services. Complicating matters further...