Salinas launches 'Life After Measure 110' tour to curb Oregon's addiction crisis

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Rep. Andrea Salinas is launching a district-wide "Life After Measure 110" listening tour on Thursday -- aiming to get feedback on ways officials can address the addiction crisis in Oregon after lawmakers rolled back the voter-approved drug decriminalization measure in April.

Rep. Salinas (OR-06) is looking to hear from both community members and law enforcement for ideas on how federal officials can forge relationships with local leaders to address the crisis.

The tour comes as law enforcement and behavioral health resources are "stretched thin," according to Salinas.

The first-term representative, who is also up for re-election, is kicking off her tour with a 4:15 p.m. meeting Thursday at the Clackamas County offices in Oregon City. She will be joined by Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West, District Attorney John Wentworth, Sheriff Angela Brandenburg and other local leaders.

Over the summer, Salinas plans to hold meetings in other counties across her district, which includes Yamhill and Polk counties, and parts of Marion, Washington, and Clackamas counties.

“The fentanyl crisis has gripped communities across Oregon and put a huge burden on law enforcement and behavioral health providers who were already stretched thin. Now that Measure 110 has been partially repealed, we can begin to enact pragmatic, evidence-based policies that will address the problem at hand,” Salinas said in a press release announcing the tour.

“I have been working to stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities and provide law enforcement with the tools they need to keep us safe, while also expanding access to treatment and recovery services," Salinas said. "With this listening tour, I look forward to gaining important insights from our police, local governments, and members of the recovery community about how we can move forward in a post-Measure 110 world and put an end to the addiction crisis once and for all.”

Parts of drug decriminalization Measure 110 were rolled back under House Bill 4002, which Gov. Tina Kotek signed in April. Under the law, possession of small amounts of street drugs will be an unclassified misdemeanor starting Sept. 1, 2024.

HB 4002 will also give people the choice between being charged and treatment when they are caught carrying drugs like fentanyl and meth. Treatment includes completing a behavioral health screening and participating in a “deflection program” in order to sidestep fines.