Study says drug decriminalization in Oregon did not cause more overdose deaths
Study says drug decriminalization in Oregon did not cause more overdose deaths
Three years after Oregon voters elected to decriminalize drugs, a new study has concluded that the first-in-the-nation law has not led to increased drug use or drug overdoses. The conclusion counters an increasingly common narrative that Oregon’s drug problem is unique in the country — and that decr...
You're viewing a single thread.
It seems disingenuous to separate number of arrests from "actual frequency" when the data suggests that the ballot initiative actually made things worse. The lead researcher behind the study shows their bias with their conjecture:
"The study also looked at arrest rates for curfew violations, loitering, vagrancy, trespassing and disorderly conduct. Davis said arrests for those categories increased in Oregon after Measure 110 took effect but said there isn’t evidence to suggest the frequency of those offenses actually increased.
“I personally think it’s probably more … that the cops are like, ‘Well, I can’t arrest you for the drugs, but I told you to move along and you didn’t. So I’m giving you a ticket for that,’” Davis said."
They can say that despite the data, they think actual frequency of those offenses haven't increased, but equally valid to their gut feeling is the anecdotal evidence that homeless activity has greatly increased and most car lots now have 12ft. tall electric fences.
Umm, the article is about overdoes rates, not arrests. Clearly you have a bias. And you cherry picked your quote. You left off the prior, more important line
That study found that Ballot Measure 110 reduced the number of arrests for drug possession but did not lead to an increase in violent crime arrests. The study also looked at arrest rates for curfew violations...