A new study published by the American Medical Association suggests that removing criminal penalties for simple drug possession does not result in an increase in fatal overdoses. The study analyzed the effects of decriminalization policies in Oregon and Washington State and found that overdose death rates remained relatively unchanged after the implementation of these policies.
The study, conducted by Corey Davis, an adjunct professor at the Department of Population Health at the New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine, compared overdose death rates in Oregon and Washington to control groups consisting of states with similar overdose rates. The researchers found no statistical significance in overdose death rates between the decriminalized states and the control group.
These findings are consistent with another recent study co-authored by Davis, which found that decriminalization in Oregon and Washington resulted in reduced arrests for drug possession without an increase in arrests for violent crimes. Taken together, these studies suggest that decriminalization measures can reduce harm to individuals who use drugs and may have positive effects on their communities as well.
However, the authors of the study acknowledge the need for further research on the medium- and long-term effects of decriminalization, as well as how reduced penalties impact different racial and ethnic groups. They also note that additional funding for treatment and recovery services, which was implemented after the study concluded, could further contribute to reducing overdose rates.
In Oregon, for example, Measure 110 was passed to remove criminal penalties for drug possession and expand access to drug treatment and recovery services. However, the funding for these services was not distributed until after the researchers’ study period. It will be important to monitor overdose rates as more data becomes available to assess the impact of these funds.
The study also highlights differences in decriminalization policies between Oregon and Washington. In Oregon, Measure 110 removed criminal penalties for drug possession, while in Washington, criminal penalties were eliminated due to a state Supreme Court decision that overturned the state’s felony drug possession law. However, lawmakers in Washington later reinstated criminal penalties for possession as a misdemeanor.
Despite the similarities in overdose death rates between Oregon and Washington, public support for decriminalization in Oregon has declined. Polling suggests that a majority of respondents now believe that Measure 110 has been a failure. In response, a coalition of business and political leaders has proposed undoing parts of Measure 110 by recriminalizing possession of certain drugs.
Legislators in Oregon have already made adjustments to the decriminalization law this year, passing reforms to provide more support and coordination for treatment programs. An audit of Measure 110 found that the Oregon Health Authority needed to provide better support and coordination, and it was too early to determine the effectiveness of the programs.
Overall, this study provides evidence that decriminalization policies for drug possession do not lead to an increase in fatal overdoses. However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of decriminalization and how it can be implemented most effectively to reduce harm related to drug use.
