Documents obtained through public records requests reveal that multiple counties have used the funds for hiring prosecutors, purchasing police equipment and vehicles, and covering sheriff costs. For instance, Washington County, the state’s second-largest jurisdiction, allocated twice as much funding for police and district attorney salaries compared to community programs. Additionally, two counties purchased laser devices designed to detect drugs, which have faced criticism for being ineffective.
Oregon, which has faced one of the most severe drug addiction crises in the United States, announced $20 million in grants last year to improve access to substance use services. However, as the state pivots away from decriminalization, these treatment funds are increasingly being allocated to sheriffs and district attorneys, leading to concerns that the money is not being used effectively.
State officials, including the governor and lawmakers, stated that the funds would be distributed to counties to support a “treatment first” strategy, aimed at encouraging jurisdictions to help drug users enter recovery programs rather than arresting them. Yet, some local governments have redirected these taxpayer-funded grants to enhance law enforcement efforts.
While these counties argue that their law enforcement investments are intended to facilitate treatment access, recovery organizations and addiction advocates criticize this spending as a misallocation of funds meant to assist those in need. They argue that it reflects a troubling trend of prioritizing policing over essential services in response to a pressing public health crisis. Oregon ranks last in the nation for treatment access, with overdose deaths reaching five per day.
In 2020, Oregon voters approved a groundbreaking ballot measure that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs, aiming to treat addiction as a health issue rather than a criminal one. However, this initiative faced backlash and was linked to rising rates of fentanyl overdoses, public drug use, and homelessness—despite research indicating multiple contributing factors.
In response, lawmakers enacted a bill last fall that recriminalized drug possession, allowing police to arrest individuals for carrying small quantities once again. Nonetheless, legislators emphasized that this did not signify a return to the traditional “war on drugs” approach. Instead, they introduced a $20 million “deflection” program, enabling police to refer individuals facing possession charges to treatment services rather than entering the criminal justice system.
Counties were given considerable discretion in how to implement the new law and whether to establish deflection programs, leading to significant disparities in spending practices. In Washington County, a $1.5 million deflection budget received approval last year, with nearly $700,000 earmarked for new law enforcement positions, including significant salaries for a deputy district attorney, a legal specialist, and a sheriff’s lieutenant. In contrast, only $360,000 was allocated for community peer mentor services aimed at assisting individuals in accessing treatment.
County officials asserted that the new law enforcement positions would focus on implementing deflection programs. However, data reveals that few individuals have been successfully directed to treatment. From September to early May, Washington County filed over 1,000 misdemeanor drug possession cases, the highest in the state, but only about 75 people were referred to deflection by April.
Strict eligibility criteria set by county officials, including district attorney Kevin Barton, have limited access to deflection programs for many individuals with pending charges or those on supervision, such as probation. Advocates argue that this makes the program largely inaccessible to those who would benefit most, particularly the unhoused population.
Other counties have also drawn attention for their spending choices. Clatsop County allocated $71,000 of its deflection funds for two TruNarc spectrometers, devices marketed for detecting narcotics. Marion County budgeted $81,000 for a new sheriff’s patrol vehicle, claiming it would support the “addiction population” while also enhancing public safety.
Since the recriminalization and deflection program began in September, nearly 7,000 arrests for possession have been made across Oregon. Yet, as of mid-April, only 723 individuals had enrolled in deflection, and just 88 had completed the program, showing a stark disconnect between funding intentions and outcomes.
