Substance
abuse is a growing problem that threatens
Portland’s livability.
Portlanders share the perception that
substance abuse is becoming a growing
problem in our community. Community members
express concern for their personal safety,
the safety of their families and the safety,
livability and desirability of the city’s
neighborhoods. They also express concern
for the community’s children, who are
exposed to frequent and visible drug use
in a variety of public settings.
When discussing substance abuse, Portlanders
focus primarily on highly addictive substances,
such as “hard” drugs, cigarettes and alcohol,
while generally making exceptions for
marijuana. They also link substance abuse
to homelessness, expressing the belief
that many “street people” abuse drugs
and alcohol, contributing to unsafe and
unsightly streets downtown. Some Portlanders
praise the success and effectiveness of
existing recovery programs, while many
call for even more services to help people
overcome addiction and re-integrate into
society. Others, however, oppose addiction
services, preferring strict enforcement
of the law and prison sentences for those
who use and abuse illegal substances.
Note:
This section contains content
and themes that overlap significantly
with those discussed in the following
sections: Social
Issues: Homelessness, Urban
Livability: City Appearance, and Public
Safety: General.
-
Substance abuse is a growing problem
that threatens Portland’s livability.
-
Visible drug use among youth threatens
the future of all of Portland’s children.
- We should
limit the use of legal addictive substances
such as cigarettes and alcohol.
- Portland
offers many effective recovery and rehabilitation
programs.
- What is
the appropriate community response to
substance abuse?
- Substance
abuse is a growing problem that
threatens Portland’s livability.
- Many Portlanders express concern
over what they perceive as increased
levels of drug use in the community.
- Respondents mention witnessing
increased drug use and drug
dealing activity in the following
locations:
- In parks, both downtown
and in neighborhoods;
- On the MAX and at MAX
and bus stops;
- Along West Burnside between
2nd and 5th and in Chinatown;
and
- Along the Waterfront
downtown.
- Portlanders are very worried
about the use and abuse of “hard”
drugs such as methamphetamine
(“meth”), heroine, cocaine and
crack cocaine. The use of these
drugs is linked to:
- Increased levels of theft
and crime in neighborhoods;
- Increased levels of homelessness;
- The perpetuation of cycles
of abuse and neglect within
families;
- The deterioration of
cleanliness, safety and
livability downtown, especially
along Burnside, in Pioneer
Courthouse Square and in
downtown parks; and
- Decreased property values
and livability in highly
affected neighborhoods,
such as outer Southeast
Portland, Rockwood and some
East Portland neighborhoods.
- Many people believe that
the homeless and “street people”
downtown are also drug users
and/or drug addicts and that
the money they ask for fuels
their drug use (see Social
Issues: Homelessness).
- Portlanders agree on a vision
of the future in which drug
use and abuse is drastically
reduced.
| “Drug
abuse is rampant in Portland.
I do not believe the addicts
add to Portland’s charm.” |
“I’ve
also noticed more of a
drug problem lately. I
moved away to the east
coast for a year and just
came back this spring
and saw this change that
was discouraging and I
hope to see it taken care
of.” |
| “I
would like to see less meth-induced
crime and devaluation of
property values in SE Portland,
and a plan to clean up outer
SE; perhaps with neighborhood
centers and artistic outreach
programs for youth in those
neighborhoods.” |
| “I’d
like to see this city without
so many ‘tweakers.’ I think
this city needs to focus
on getting rid of drug dealers.
Almost every other day someone
tried to sell drugs to me.” |
- Collaborate between
sectors to decrease substance
abuse (says one Portlander,
"Draw a triangle with church,
community and local government
at the 3 points.").
- Increase police presence in
areas where drug dealing occurs;
for example, increase the use
of mounted police in parks and
along the waterfront.
- Increase resources for the
Multnomah County Drug Court
Program (S.T.O.P.) and the treatment
provider InAct.
- “More awareness of the business
community’s knowledge of the
drug problem and how they might
be part of the solution. Keep
people employed and on health
care.”
- Legalize marijuana in order
to free up resources to aggressively
combat the production, sale,
and use of meth, cocaine and
other highly destructive drugs.
- Start addressing the root
causes of substance abuse and
addiction.
- Visible
drug use among youth threatens
the future of all of Portland’s
children.
- Respondents express concern
over the number of street youth
using drugs in downtown Portland,
fearing that this sets a negative
example for other youth.
- Drug use among youth is also
linked to gang activity, drop-out
rates and violent crime committed
by youth.
- Some respondents would like
to see street youth with substance
abuse problems treated for their
addictions, both for their sake
and for the community’s health
and well-being.
| “I
would like to see the panhandlers
and homeless teens off of
our downtown sidewalks.
People should not be allowed
to openly do and sell drugs
in Waterfront Park like
they do. What happened to
the horse patrols that used
to go through the park?” |
| “[G]ive
people options…[people]
use drugs as a response
to despair. There is a connection
between low school graduation
rates among and drug abuse
within the African American
community.” |
| “[In
the future] people are working/off
the streets/off drugs. Kids
are taken care of and loved
by their families – not
neglected and abused. Kids
are being educated and nurtured
to blossom, be healthy &
eventually take a productive
place in society for Portland
to be a great city.” |
- Increase and improve
early education on the harmful
and destructive effects of drug
addiction.
- Provide youth with positive
adult role models who are not
sports or entertainment stars,
with their frequently-reported
drug and alcohol use problems.
- Create more commercials and
public service messages about
the harmful effects of drugs
such as meth, crack and cocaine.
- Improve the public education
system to keep youth excited
about and engaged in learning
and productive behavior.
- “Help for the mentally ill
and the children of drug and
alcohol abusers. We need to
spend money at the root of the
problem and not at the end result.”
- We
should also limit the use of
legal addictive substances such
as cigarettes and alcohol.
- To a lesser extent, Portlanders
are worried about the abuse
of legal substances such as
hard alcohol and cigarettes.
Some respondents consider these
substances to be more harmful
than illegal drugs such as marijuana.
- Many Portlanders advocate
for Oregon to follow Washington
and California in prohibiting
smoking in restaurants and bars.
- People applaud the city’s
decision to make public places
like Pioneer Square and Tri-met
stops non-smoking.
- Some respondents want smoking
banned throughout Oregon, including
public areas like downtown.
- Raise cigarette and
tobacco tax in the city limits.
- Create stronger campaigns
to educate children.
- Expand the hours of public
transportation, specifically
the MAX, to persuade people
not to drink and drive.
- Create a beer and wine tax
to fund drug prevention programs.
- Eliminate billboards advertising
alcohol, gambling, and smoking.
- Portland
offers many effective recovery
and rehabilitation programs.
- Respondents want to draw
attention to the wonderful work
that is currently underway to
rehabilitate those recovering
from addictions. Former addicts
speak of Portland as a place
where they were able to get
clean and re-integrate into
society.
- Frequently-mentioned services
for drug users and addicts include:
- The Drug Court of Multnomah
County (S.T.O.P);
- The Detox Center;
- The treatment provider
InAct; and
- Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
and Narcotics Anonymous
(N.A.)
- Community members commend
these programs for how well
they work and the positive difference
they make in the lives of addicts
and their families.
- Many Portlanders are convinced
that rehabilitation and treatment
programs like these should be
used instead of incarceration,
which they believe is more costly
to society in the long run.
- In addition to treatment centers,
rehabilitation centers and recovery
programs, people also value
services such as free syringe
exchange and good support networks
for people in recovery.
- People want increased funding
to improve existing programs
and to create more programs
to serve more people.
| “As
a recovering attick [sic],
I value all the help that
I received in Portland…I
was employed by Portland
Parks and Recreation when
I only had 9 months clean.
Soon I will have 4 years
clean. And with the help
of Portlanders, I was able
to transition into society.
I love the people.” |
|
“[Portland] is where I have
learned recovery and am
beginning to make my life
with a positive future.” |
|
“[In the future] the City
has led a partnership program
to engage businesses in
drug treatment services.
Co-sharing of job training
and a commitment to help
people help themselves.” |
- “Create more housing
programs for single mothers
in recovery.”
- Move recovery housing from
places where drug dealing is
occurring.
- Open facilities for people
on meth; set up programs to
find and treat meth abusers.
- “Maybe more rehab clinics?
Really drug use is totally a
personal choice and I'm not
sure how you could possibly
change that, the prison system
definitely isn’t the answer.
Maybe free personal and life
counseling to everyone…”
|
- What
is the appropriate community response
to substance abuse?
While Portlanders agree that the criminal
act of manufacturing and selling drugs
should be dealt with as harshly as possible,
opinions are deeply divided on the issue
of how to deal with substance abusers.
The primary disagreement is between
those who see substance abuse as a health
issue that requires prevention and treatment
and those who see substance abuse as
criminal activity that must not be tolerated
and should be punished under the law.
Many Portlanders see addiction as
a tragic illness and feel compassion
for those individuals who become addicted
to substances, whether they be legal
substances such as alcohol or illegal
substances such as meth, cocaine and
other “hard” drugs. These respondents
believe that the only appropriate
and effective response to substance
abuse is to provide abusers with the
treatment and services they need to
overcome their addictions, re-integrate
into their families and communities
and become productive members of society.
They advocate for increased resources
for detoxification and rehabilitation
as well as longer-term services such
as job skills counseling, mental health
counseling and other services that
people with addictions need to get
to the point where they can turn their
lives around.
|
"[I would like to see] commitment
to helping get people with mental
illness or addiction off the streets
and into care or rehab facilities
to treat them, not putting them
in jail or ignoring them.” |
Many others, however, hold a very different
view of substance abuse. These Portlanders
see drug use as a form of criminal activity
and believe that drug users, as well
as those who eventually become addicted,
should be held accountable and punished
like other criminals. They believe that
Portland is “too soft” on drug users
and that the availability of services
such as syringe exchange, counseling
and housing for drug users only exacerbates
the problem. They advocate a “get tough”
approach and want to see drug users
off the streets and in jails, believing
this is the only way to create cleaner,
safer streets and environments for law-abiding
Portlanders, and especially for children.
|
"Portland needs to hold the bar
higher for people. They need to
expect accountability. We need to
stop reinforcing the idea that people
can’t do it themselves. What do
you have when you sober up a horse
thief? A sober horse thief. What
happens when we instill and reinforce
entitlement issues in criminal,
homeless people, and addicts? Portland
needs to help people who are willing
to do the hard work and stop throwing
money at those who don’t want a
better life.” |
|
"Stop the crime and drugs. Put people
in jail and keep them there.” |
Still others do not subscribe to either
of these positions. These Portlanders
do not see treatment or law enforcement
as the answer, but would rather prefer
to see resources re-directed towards
prevention. From this perspective, the
important thing is to break cycles of
addiction and prevent children and individuals
from becoming addicted in the first
place. Placing people with addiction
issues in jail or serving them only
when their drug use has compromised
their quality of life does little to
actually reduce rates of substance abuse
over the long term. Instead, resources
should be spent on education, family
counseling and other services that can
prevent people from turning to drugs
and other addictive substances in the
first place.
|
“Focus on health and prevention
instead of pathology and services
for those who have fallen.” |
|
