Oregon Leaders Declare State of Emergency in Response to Fentanyl Crisis

The Urgent Call to Action

In a united effort to combat the escalating fentanyl crisis, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler have declared a 90-day state of emergency in downtown Portland. This emergency declaration aims to address the public health and public safety crisis, which has been exacerbated by the rise in overdoses, deaths, and fear caused by fentanyl use in the city.

Jason "Jelly Roll" DeFord testifying before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee on Thursday in Washington DC.

The declaration, made in response to the unprecedented threat posed by fentanyl, reflects the urgent need for collaborative and focused resources to combat the deadly and addictive nature of the drug. Gov. Tina Kotek emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that our country and our state have never seen a drug as deadly and addictive as fentanyl, leaving all grappling with how to respond to this crisis.

The emergency order allows the city, state, and county to allocate resources to the response and establish a command center in the central city. This collaborative effort will include two public health campaigns and increased outreach to facilitate access to treatment, recovery, and housing services for individuals affected by fentanyl use. Additionally, the joint efforts of the Portland Police Bureau and Oregon State Police will work towards holding individuals selling the drug accountable.

The Impact of Fentanyl Use

The deadly impact of fentanyl use has been evident in the alarming rise of opioid overdose deaths in Oregon. According to the state's data, opioid overdose deaths in Oregon increased from 280 in 2019 to 956 in 2022, reflecting the devastating consequences of fentanyl use. This surge in overdose deaths is not unique to Oregon, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a nearly four-fold increase in drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl nationwide in 2021, with nearly 70,000 deaths.

Fentanyl's potency and high likelihood of involvement in deadly overdoses make it a significant concern for public health and safety. Experts emphasize the critical need for broader access to and use of treatments for opioid use disorder to effectively reverse the alarming trends in overdose deaths associated with fentanyl use.

Collaborative Response and Roadmap for Action

The emergency declarations have been recommended by the Portland Central City Task Force, reflecting a collaborative and strategic approach to address the fentanyl crisis. Gov. Tina Kotek highlighted the unprecedented collaboration and focused resources that will be deployed over the next 90 days to target fentanyl and provide a roadmap for next steps in addressing the crisis.

The establishment of a command center in the central city will facilitate the sharing and reporting of data on the impacts of fentanyl, enabling a targeted response to acute needs and gaps in service. Moreover, the joint efforts of the city, state, and county will aim to alleviate the human toll of fentanyl, including overdoses, fatalities, day-to-day suffering, and the fear experienced by families as a result of the crisis.