Drug Debate: Oregon Looks To Distribute Fentanyl Snorting Kits

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Sports met geopolitics this weekend as Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina faced Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in round four of Wimbledon. It was the first time that a Ukrainian tennis player faced a player from an aggressor nation at the tournament since the war began.

In the end, Svitolina edged out Azarenka in a thrilling third set tiebreak. But there was some controversy on the court when Svitolina refused to shake Azarenka’s hand after the match. She has said she will not shake hands with opponents from any country aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine. Out of respect, Azarenka gave her a wave — but was then booed off the court by the crowd.

Does Azarenka’s country rob her of the right to sportsmanship? Send in your thoughts to Mo News on Instagram.

Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney

🗞 DRUG REFORM LAWS FACE THE REAL TEST

About two decades ago, Portugal made a radical decision to decriminalize all drug use, including cocaine and heroin. It’s an experiment that inspired similar efforts in the US, like in Portland, Oregon.

But now, according to the Washington Post, many leaders in the Portugal— including the mayor of the country’s second biggest city of Porto— are having second thoughts.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?
In 2001, Portugal became the pioneer when it decriminalized all drug use. The idea: reduce the number of people in the criminal justice system for drug violations, and instead invest in treatment to reduce drug abuse and improve public safety. Instead of jail time, drug users face penalties like a small fine or recommended rehab treatment (the decision to attend is voluntary).

The hope was that lives could be saved, and that disease transmission via dirty needles could be reduced, through the distribution legal drug paraphernalia and supervised drug use.

Portugal inspired cities around the world, and in February of 2021, Oregon became the first U.S. state to embrace this blueprint and decriminalize all drugs. 58% of voters supported the policy at the time.

Here are some of the pros and cons:

ARGUMENT FOR DECRIMINALIZATION

• Addiction treatment is less expensive than incarceration

• Those suffering from substance abuse are more likely to recover from rehab than jail time

• Violence related to drug trafficking is greatly reduced

• Courts are freed up for other important work

ARGUMENT AGAINST DECRIMINALIZATION

• People may be more likely to experiment with drugs if they do not fear legal repercussions

• Existing treatment resources are not large enough to handle the influx of new addicts

• The adverse effects of drugs can cause users to engage in criminal activity

• Poses a threat to public safety and drives non-drug users away from the city with impact on tourism, local businesses, tourism

THE RESULTS
In Portugal, they initially saw HIV transmission drop and prison populations decrease. However, in recent years, public drug use is up and drug-related crime has skyrocketed.

Meanwhile, in Oregon, there’s been a surge in visible drug use across Portland and other cities, as well as record-high overdose deaths. State legislators are already looking at reforming the reforms.

BY THE NUMBERS
Similar to Portugal, Oregon’s decriminalization policy, now in its third year, has also done little to get people with addiction to seek treatment.

As drug-related arrests have gone down, opioid deaths are going up. Portland, the state’s largest city, is already on track to break last year’s record high for opioid deaths, as the fentanyl crisis grows. Overdoses this year have surged a stunning 46%.

THE STATE OF OREGON VS. PORTLAND ON FENTANYL
In a controversial new policy, the Multnomah County Health Department— home to Portland— said Friday they plan to distribute aluminum foil, straws, glass pipes and snorting kits to fentanyl smokers.

It is part of what they call their Harm Reduction Program, which offers clean paraphernalia for using hard drugs.

• The state says they're adding these items to their distribution because of a change in drug-using patterns (more fentanyl) which don’t require syringes. They say this will let them monitor people using fentanyl and enable them to utilize Narcan to reduce overdoses.

But several prominent officials, including Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, are calling on the state to reconsider. He wrote on Twitter, "This misguided approach also results in greater risk to public safety for those who simply want to enjoy our city without walking through a cloud of toxic smoke."

MO NEWS COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACT
This story elicited a ton of responses from our community on Instagram. Here are a few comments from critics and advocates:

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨 NATION

📌 A solar storm this week is expected to make the Northern Lights visible in 17 states (AP)

📌 Texas sued over plan to install buoys as barrier along Rio Grande in effort to deter migrant border crossings (HOUSTON CHRONICLE)

📌 Lawsuit seeking reparations for Tulsa Race Massacre is dismissed (NBC)

📌 A manhunt is underway for a “very dangerous” homicide suspect who escaped a Pennsylvania jail using his bed sheets (CBS)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 What’s at stake for Biden as he heads to Europe, NATO summit this week (POLITICO)

📌 U.S. to send cluster munitions banned by over 100 nations to Ukraine after months of debate (CNN)

📌 Netherlands Prime Minister and his entire cabinet resign after failing to agree on immigration policies (WASHINGTON POST)

📌 Switzerland to become a net importer of cheese this year for the first time (ABC)

💵 BUSINESS & TECH

📌 These are the supermarket aisles where prices are still rising (WALL STREET JOURNAL)

📌 Threads isn’t for news and politics, says Instagram’s boss (THE VERGE). **All of us at Mo News accept that challenge. 😀 

📌 Workers are raiding their retirement savings at record rates (YAHOO FINANCE)

📌 There are more women in the workforce than ever before (CNN BUSINESS)

🎥 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Jamie Foxx waves to fans in first appearance since April hospitalization (DEADLINE)

📌 U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe says she will retire at the end of the 2023 season (ESPN)

📌 Video shows Britney Spears inadvertently hit herself in the face in encounter with Victor Wembanyama (AP)

🗓 ON THIS DAY: JULY 10

• 1553: Lady Jane Grey becomes the Queen of England and begins the shortest reign—9 days—in British royal history. Lady Jane, then age 15, was chosen over her cousin Mary I, because she was Protestant (Mary was Catholic). But she wasn’t given much time. Mary would be handed the throne on July 19. Jane was sent to the Tower of London and beheaded several months later.

• 1962: Telstar 1, the first communications satellite to transmit live TV signals and telephone conversations across the Atlantic Ocean, was launched.

• 1965: The Rolling Stones topped U.S. charts for the first time with the single (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.

• 1981: Singer Rick James released his hit single, Super Freak.