PORTLAND, Ore. — In the first two months since simple drug possession was recriminalized in Oregon , officials in Multnomah County say that 91 people were referred to deflection instead of being charged and funneled into the criminal court system. Recriminalization became effective Sept.
1, the date set by the Oregon Legislature in House Bill 4002, passed in the spring. Between that date and Oct. 31, Multnomah County said that law enforcement agencies made a total of 91 successful referrals into deflection.
Those in turn led to 191 referrals to services, which the county clarified could include sobering, detox, outpatient treatment, peer services or housing navigation. The deflection referrals were more than the county anticipated, and for most of that two-month period, accounted for some 40% of deflections statewide, Multnomah County said, citing an OPB report . The county has estimated it will get between 300 and 800 people referred for deflection each year.
“We are pleased that the program is up and going, but we still have a long way to go,” said Multnomah County Health Director Rachael Banks. “From a public health perspective, our top priority is preventing overdose deaths, and anyone who has seen a loved one struggle with addiction knows it can take multiple attempts to gain long-term recovery.” Multnomah County's deflection program was initially supposed to launch Sept.
1 with a physical location, known as the Coordinated Care Pathway Center , to receive peop.