My opinion: Life after Measure 110, and what that could mean for Oregonians

On Nov. 3, 2020, Oregonians overwhelmingly voted to pass Ballot Measure 110 and decriminalize the possession of small amounts of certain controlled substances. Almost four years later, it is abundantly clear that the law did not work in the way voters had hoped it would.

Because this was a voter-approved measure, the State Legislature’s role was purely procedural. I was still a state legislator representing House District 38 at the time, and it was my job to affirm the will of the people — not override it. However, like many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I had deep concerns about the implementation of Measure 110.

Fentanyl and other opioids have gripped our communities, and the sudden, explosive nature of this crisis has put a huge burden on behavioral health providers who were already stretched thin — especially in rural areas. Expanding access to addiction and social services must be a priority, and that means having the providers and infrastructure in place to care for patients. Clearly, decriminalizing the unlawful possession of a controlled substance did not help build the infrastructure, but it has exacerbated the need for it.

I have always said that the addiction crisis is not a problem we can solve with half measures. We can’t just pass laws and pray they work. There is also no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we need to enact a series of pragmatic, evidence-based policies to address the problem at hand.

In my current role as the U.S. representative for Oregon’s Sixth District, I am focused on doing just that.

I have supported several pieces of legislation, many of them bipartisan, to stop the flow of fentanyl and other opioids into our communities and provide law enforcement with the resources they need to keep us safe. For example, I voted with Republicans and Democrats to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act, which would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl-related substances and help save lives. I am also a cosponsor of the Smart Border Protection Act, which would deploy additional personnel to the Southern Border and prevent dangerous drugs from entering our country in the first place. Beyond legislation, I consistently meet with law enforcement officers to discuss how Congress can better support their efforts to get fentanyl under control.

Simultaneously, I am committed to making addiction treatment more accessible and affordable for all Oregonians. I have championed bills to expand access to peer support services and deliver more funding for school-based and community health centers that often help people who are struggling with substance use disorders. As Co-chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, I will continue working to find sensible legislative solutions to the mental and behavioral health crisis.

We need to implement these and other sensible policies in tandem, creating an infrastructure that will ensure people can get the care and support they need — without throwing caution to the wind and continuing to ignore reality.

Measure 110 was a failure. But that doesn’t mean we can just shrug our shoulders and pretend the problem doesn’t exist.

I am glad that Gov. Kotek and my former colleagues in the State Legislature recognized the need for a different approach. The fact is, we shouldn’t have to sacrifice public safety in the name of compassion and humanity. We can and should protect both — at the same time — through policies that are proven and implementable in a unique state like ours.

As we enter a post-Measure 110 world, I am hopeful that state and local leaders will work together with the federal government to forge a new path forward. For my part, I will be hosting a listening tour over the next few months, meeting with local officials, law enforcement, advocates, mental health professionals and regular folks in every county in my district. The goal is to gather perspectives and field ideas about where we go from here. When it comes to the safety of our communities, you and your neighbors deserve to have a say — and I am committed to bringing your perspectives with me to the policymaking table.

Click here for more information about my county-by-county listening tour and to learn more about how I’m working to address the addiction crisis in Oregon.

U.S. Andrea Salinas represents Congressional District 6, which includes much of Washington, Yamhill and Polk counties. She lives in Tigard.