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Where's all the drug treatment and harm reduction? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 years ago by NightAuthor@lemmy.world to c/portland@lemmy.ml

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I rewatched an old but good video on the war on drugs. And it reminded me, that tlaw enforcement is AT BEST 1 step ahead of some criminals. But that the criminal element is always rapidly adapting, and the best thing we can do against drugs and crime is to focus on the demand side.

We legalized the drugs, but didn't do the more important half of that solution, treatment and services for the drug users.

So, why aren't we doing more? Who dropped the ball? Are we doomed to just keep throwing more law enforcement at the problem?

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[–] Encode1307@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The toll free hotline was not the only way to access treatment. The hotline has certainly been a failure. Thousands of people have already accessed services through other avenues though.

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It was just the easiest point of entry, but you notice while I mentioned the hotline, the quote simply says "entered treatment".

136/16,000 = 0.85%

People are lining up for the free needle exchange, or the free narcan, they AREN'T trying to get treatment.

[–] Encode1307@lemm.ee 3 points 2 years ago

It's not even close to the easiest. The easiest is working with the peer mentors that are meeting you in the emergency room when you have an abscess or the people you talk to all the time at the needle exchange.

People go to treatment from needle exchanges all the time. You have no clue what you're talking about.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDHS/bulletins/3465dc9#:~:text=The%20reporting%20shows%20that%20Measure,were%20still%20being%20established%20statewide.