Skip to main content

Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency in Portland on Tuesday in response to an alarming increase in fentanyl-related deaths. This declaration, supported by Portland’s mayor and county chair, establishes a command center focused on drug overdose response and prevention for a minimum of 90 days.

Governor Kotek noted the danger posed by fentanyl, describing it as the deadliest drug the state and country have faced. She said, “The next 90 days will yield unprecedented collaboration and focused resources targeting fentanyl and provide a roadmap for next steps.” The emergency command center, recommended by a Portland task force last year, aims to revitalize the city’s downtown and enhance response efforts.

Npr.brightspotcdn

Kotek’s office clarified that the center will repurpose existing resources, focusing on data collection and coordination between local, county, and state governments. Critics of the Governor’s office have noted that Oregon has been experiencing a significant rise in synthetic opioid overdoses, sparking criticism of a 2020 law that decriminalized small amounts of most drugs.

Digging Deeper:
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that Oregon has faced the largest increase in synthetic overdose deaths nationwide and ranks third in overall overdose fatalities.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Keep up to date with our latest videos, news and content