Is a Parking Ticket Worse Than Heroin Possession?

As the war on drugs reaches its 50-year anniversary, recovering addicts and community leaders form their own opinions on drug decriminalization while trying to find a solution to the spike of overdoses in Oregon over the years. 

Measure 110 made possession of small amounts of certain drugs (including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine) punishable by only a citation and a $100 fine. The citation is said to be similar to a parking ticket, and the fine can be waived if the individual being prosecuted undergoes a health screening. The goal of putting this measure in place was to move people from the criminal justice system to the health system, but it isn’t as simple as it sounds. 

By trying to hold back on going straight to arresting people for possession of drugs, it was expected that they would instead seek help. “Criminalization keeps people in the shadows,” said a district attorney for Multnomah County. Decriminalization was put in place with the intention of attempting to get people out of those shadows to finally receive some help. Oregon wasn’t nearly as prepared as it should’ve been for the number of people in need of treatment. People trying to transition into recovery are being faced with a lack of resources and essentially, a lack of support. This got even worse in 2020 due to Covid-19. Because of social distancing rules, there was a shortage of beds and other treatment resources, causing another spike in overdoses over quarantine. 

It’s important to diminish the stigma around addiction and drug use, to keep opening up, and stop keeping people in the shadows. We require a certain level of leadership to be able to accomplish something this great. Oregon dove into this measure with no plan, especially looking at things long-term. The programs have been underfunded, and there’s no system created specifically for a good long-term recovery. Without all these essential factors, it’s hard to say whether decriminalization is actually going to be successful. The war has already been going on for 50 years. What changes are we going to make to ensure it doesn’t continue for 50 more?

Some have also been concerned with how simple the punishment for possession is, wondering if it’s strong enough to push addicts to get help. A few recovering addicts have opened up about the sacrifices they made to continue with their addiction, pointing out how a small fine and a citation aren’t such a big deal to someone who chose drugs over their own family. They’ve also expressed concerns about the crime rate and how decriminalization is going to impact it. People commit crimes for income to contribute to their addiction. How are a fine and a ticket going to change that for the better in the long run?

One of the main reasons measure 110 was overwhelmingly passed in Oregon was because decriminalization was said to reduce racial and ethnic disparities by a significant amount. Blacks in Oregon are 2.5 times as likely to be convicted as whites (who make up 76% of the population). With so many problems to solve, it seemed like the obvious solution was to decriminalize drugs and pass the measure. But once again, underfunding has been affecting the African-American recovery system as well. An African-American-oriented program shared a fund of $10 million with 47 other groups across the state, but the money was only intended to last 6 months, meaning long-term treatment wasn’t included in the vision. 

With all perspectives accounted for, it’s clear that even though this is a step in the right direction, Oregon bit off more than it could chew with Measure 110. Without an abundance of aftercare and long-term treatment preparations, it’s difficult to be successful in an experiment like this one. Oregon needs a recovery-oriented system of care to deal with drug-related issues in a way that’s actually helpful to the people receiving treatment.