The Portland Police Bureau is once again warning of a potentially dangerous batch of drugs circulating the streets. This time eight people died from possible overdoses. In addition, this month Oregon’s therapeutic psilocybin program is going fully online. Still, within the last three days, police say eight people have died from possible overdoses.
The drugs on the streets now are dangerous and unpredictable. Police say the concerning pattern comes from people thinking that they were ingesting cocaine. However, the substance was a blend of cocaine and fentanyl. And, in some cases the drug was pure fentanyl. Investigators say six of the eight overdoses are likely fentanyl related and the other two are pending additional investigations.
The medical examiner’s office, along with Portland Police Narcotics and Organized Crime (NOC) Unit are in the front of the investigation. Police provided the following information about the possible overdoses:
-May 12, 11:38 a.m., 38-year-old man inside an apartment in the 12100 block of East Burnside Street, case number 23-123928
-May 12, 1:34 p.m., 42-year-old man in a tent in the 8100 block of Southeast Rhine Street, case number 23-124037
-May 13, 12:24 a.m., 47-year-old man in a vehicle in Sellwood Riverfront Park, 8049 SE Oaks Park Way, case number 23-124623
-May 13, 1:44 a.m., unknown age man in a grassy area at West Burnside Street and Northwest 8th Avenue, case number 23-124669
-May 13, 4:21 p.m., 69-year-old man in an apartment in the 800 block of Northwest Naito Parkway, case number 23-125214
-May 13, 11:49 p.m., 49-year-old man and 37-year-old man in an apartment in the 16000 block of Northeast Sandy Boulevard, case number 23-125607
-May 14, 4:31 p.m., unknown age person in the 8100 Block of North Hartman Street, case number 23-126180
Many are wondering how the new treat will fair. The Oregon Health Authority recently issued a lab and service center licenses under the state’s regulatory framework, approved by voters in 2020 as Measure 109. The licensed manufacturers will grow the psilocybin, colloquially known as “magic mushrooms,” send samples of the mushrooms to a licensed lab in order to test that they’re the right kind, and evaluate their potency.
The growers can then sell the mushrooms to a licensed service center, where a licensed facilitator will help guide clients through the psychedelic effects. It now doesn’t require a prescription or medical referral to take psilocybin at a service center. The only requirement is that clients be at least 21 years old and that they take the dose and ride it out at the service center. Buying psilocybin and taking it home is not an option. Treatment and harm reduction has become a major approach in Oregon.
