Washington County offers a window into what deflection could mean for law enforcement and treatment providers

Think Out Loud

Last week, Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law HB 4002 which effectively ends Oregon’s experiment with drug decriminalization under Measure 110. As of Sept. 1, the possession of hard drugs like fentanyl and meth will be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. But the law also sets aside nearly $21 million to incentivize counties and Tribal governments to deflect drug users from jail time by connecting them to treatment and recovery service providers. Twenty-three counties in the state, including Washington County, have signed letters committing to prioritize deflection over incarceration. The details of those programs, however, are left up to each participating county. Joining us to talk about what deflection could look like in Washington County, and its impact on law enforcement and treatment providers are District Attorney Kevin Barton and Alison Noice, the executive director of Coda Inc., a substance use disorder treatment provider serving the tri-county region.