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Pictures capturing drug addicts passed out on the streets of Portland have revealed the alarming consequences of the city’s decriminalization program, Your Content has learned.
This open-air drug market has led to a surge in drug use and homelessness, prompting city officials to take action. The sidewalks are strewn with discarded needles, painting a grim picture of the situation.
In a neighboring city, Oregon City, a mayoral candidate named Leslie Wright has proposed a unique solution to address the homelessness crisis. Wright suggests utilizing vacant schools as shelters, creating small, compact living spaces inspired by Japanese-style pods. This approach aims to provide each homeless individual with their own designated area and address.
Wright’s proposal comes at a time when Portland is grappling with an escalating drug problem and a sharp increase in overdose deaths. In 2021 alone, the state of Oregon witnessed a staggering 41 percent rise in overdose fatalities, reaching an all-time high of 1069 deaths.
It is worth noting that Oregon holds the distinction of being the first state in the United States to decriminalize the possession of personal-use quantities of drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, and oxycodone.
As the situation in Portland continues to worsen, with concerns of an open-air drug market and soaring overdose rates, the proposed Japanese-style pod homes in Oregon City may offer a potential solution to the homelessness crisis. However, the effectiveness and feasibility of this approach remain to be seen, according to FLIPBOARD.
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