Multnomah County leadership is making it official that the treatment part of Measure 110 – officially called the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act - was really a bait-and-switch for voters. And so was HB 4002, the so-called tough reform of Measure 110 passed by state legislators this spring, (“Caught with street drugs in Multnomah County? Post-Measure 110 plan will offer drop-off center or arrest,” June 18).

The Oregonian/OregonLive story notes that Washington and Clackamas counties are taking steps to actually compel people to choose treatment after being arrested. But Multnomah County’s proposal “won’t require people to undergo a substance abuse screening or get help for their addiction. They will be free to walk away after checking in” to the drop-off center, according to the story.

The Portland Police Association president noted that the proposed policy is not a meaningful change from Measure 110 and may lead to one person having a lengthy encounter with law enforcement four or five times in a day.

What constituency is Multnomah County even serving at this point? Who in the county is standing up for first responders, who are stretched thin as they deal with the chaos downtown? Who is standing up for the businesses forced to remove passed out or overdosed people from their entryways, only to have them return an hour later? Who is standing up for regular people who want to walk down streets and through parks?

Voters want to know they’re funding a plan that will actually provide help to people in the way of treatment.

Geoff Smith, Portland

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