PORTLAND, Ore. — The war on drugs, once a weapon in the nation's fight against substance abuse and related crimes, is making a comeback on the West Coast. Fueled by increasingly visible signs of homelessness and drug use in Oregon and San Francisco, officials are restoring punitive measures for drug-related offenses amid a worsening fentanyl crisis.
'Why is the goal to keep someone alive? The goal should be get them into recovery, kick this horrible habit.' But recovery can be slow for people struggling with addiction. Many cycle in and out of jail and treatment before they get sober. Preventing deaths through public health services is a much more attainable goal, drug reform advocates said.