State of Emergency: Fentanyl
A state of emergency was declared for downtown Portland, Oregon by several elected officials on Tuesday due to the escalating public health and safety concerns linked to fentanyl. Governor Tina Kotek, Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson initiated the declaration for a duration of 90 days. A coordinated effort will be facilitated from a central command center downtown, aimed at addressing the crisis. The directive involves government agencies collaborating with first responders to assist people struggling with fentanyl addiction by providing access to drug treatment programs and enforcing crackdowns on drug trafficking.
Governor Kotek emphasized the unprecedented lethality and addictive nature of fentanyl, stating that both the country and the state are grappling with effective responses to the crisis. The declaration stems from recommendations put forth by a task force established by the governor, which convened over several months to devise strategies for revitalizing downtown Portland.
During the 90-day period, individuals encountering first responders in downtown Portland will undergo assessments at the command center. Their staff will connect them with helpful resources, from treatment facility beds to consultations with behavioral health professionals and assistance with social services applications.
Mayor Ted Wheeler underscored the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing the daily convening of leaders representing various sectors involved in addressing the crisis. Mike Myers, the director of Portland’s Community Safety Division, will lead the city’s command team, leaving Nathan Reynolds, deputy policy chief at the state’s Office of Resilience and Emergency Management, to serve as the state’s incident commander.
The initiative entails an expanded partnership between the Portland Police Bureau and the Oregon State Police for joint patrols targeting fentanyl sales in downtown areas. Information campaigns focusing on drug prevention and recovery programs will be launched across the region, alongside expanded outreach and training on Narcan administration by the county.
While the plan lacks clear measures of success, Governor Kotek stressed that the next 90 days will be critical in developing a strategy for the future. The opioid addiction and overdose crisis, which has plagued the United States for over two decades, has prompted urgent responses from federal, state, and local authorities.
Oregon legislators have proposed a bill to amend key aspects of the state’s drug decriminalization law in response to escalating concerns over public drug use amid rising homelessness rates. Furthermore, efforts at the international level, such as the collaboration between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, aim to restrict the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals from China to Latin America, ultimately curbing its production and distribution, primarily emanating from Mexico into the United States.
