Multnomah County leaders say new Oregon drug law is off to a slow start

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – When Oregon's new drug possession law went into effect on Sunday, it left each county responsible for creating a treatment program that gives those caught with drugs the option between serving jail time and seeking help.

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson led a press briefing Thursday afternoon to discuss what steps the county has taken to create a “deflection program” that complies with the state’s recriminalization efforts.

On Sunday, House Bill 4002 officially recriminalized the possession of small amounts of hard drugs for the first time since Measure 110 went into effect in 2020. It also prompted efforts to help people seek treatment when they are caught carrying drugs like fentanyl and meth.

Treatment, according to the law, includes completing a behavioral health screening and participating in a “deflection program” in order to sidestep fines.

During the press conference, county leaders admitted the deflection program is off to a slow start. Only about half of those deflected were able to immediately get recovery-oriented services like an inpatient treatment program, according to the nonprofit 4-D Recovery that provides peer counselors to be on scene when someone is arrested.

Earlier this week, Portland police reported that roughly 40% of the people caught using drugs between Sunday morning and Tuesday afternoon had started the deflection process. A person is not eligible for deflection if they have any active warrants or additional charges.

4-D Recovery is a mobile outreach provider working with the county to offer deflection services on the ground. When someone opts in for treatment, police officers and 4-D recovery work together to move that person through the deflection process.

However, police are only able to offer deflection services from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday due to the county’s limited behavioral health availability.

Multnomah County must rely on this mobile outreach until mid- to late October 2024 as its deflection center plans were pushed back due to a lack of staffing. County leaders also face the challenge of bolstering community support for the center’s location at 900 SE Pine Street — only one block away from a preschool.

Yet the county said its plans to open the center are still moving forward: They have an occupancy permit, training underway and are on track to open next month.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.