After the first month of a significant change in Oregon's drug laws, Multnomah County has begun steering individuals toward rehabilitation rather than jail time. As reported by the Multnomah County officials, since September 1, 71 people were referred to a new deflection program following the reclassification of drug possession to a misdemeanor.
Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson articulated the vision of the approach, "At this critical moment for our community, we are committed to building a system to make sure law enforcement connects those eligible for deflection with behavioral health and addiction resources. We’re doing that," she said in a statement obtained by the Multnomah County official website, "This system moves people away from incarceration and toward health and healing, makes our community safer and begins addressing some of our gaps in treatment. We have a long way to go, but this first month makes me optimistic about what’s possible."
Outreach workers have made an aggregate of 136 referrals for the involved individuals to an array of social services ranging from housing to addiction recovery. The initiative is coordinated by the county's Health Department which dispatches mobile outreach workers to engage with those stopped by law enforcement. The county has collaborated with local police departments and the District Attorney's office to examine the outcomes of these interactions.
Grant Hartley from Metropolitan Public Defender reinforced the program's purpose, stating, "Multnomah County’s deflection program, unlike the criminal legal system, can quickly connect individuals with essential stabilizing services and peer support to help guide them down the long road to recovery." Hartley added, "It provides support and compassion, rather than threats of incarceration, to motivate individuals to engage in treatment and other services." The Portland Police Bureau and its partners have echoed a commitment to this new approach articulated by its Chief, Bob Day, "I am encouraged by what the Portland Police Bureau and our partners have been able to accomplish in the last month," he told Multnomah County News.
Professional peer and behavioral health outreach workers from organizations like 4-D Recovery and Tuerk House play integral roles in the application of the deflection program. "Six months from now, the public will have a better understanding of the successes that are happening and the number of people who are getting into treatment," Tony Vezina, the co-founder of 4-D Recovery said.
The coordinated Care Pathway Center, operated by Tuerk House, also anticipates its launch later in October, as stated by its CEO Bernard Gyebi-Foster, "Our Tuerk House team is ready to open the doors of the Coordinated Care Pathway Center, and begin serving the people of Multnomah County," highlighting the recent efforts to staff and renovate the premises with qualified professionals ready to aid in the recovery journeys of participants.
