In 2020, Oregon voters overwhelmingly approved to decriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs, and mandate more spending on drug treatment and social services. But 3.5 years of frustration, with overdose deaths and open air drug use, has turned public opinion around, and lawmakers have restored criminal penalties. We'll speak with New Yorker contributing writer E. Tammy Kim, who traveled through the state speaking with activists, treatment providers, police, lawmakers and drug users about the experience, and the ongoing debate over how to respond to America's drug crisis. Also, Kevin Whitehead remembers classical and pop singer Sarah Vaughan on the 100th anniversary of her birth. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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This is fresh air.
I'm Dave Davies.
In 2020, voters in Oregon overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to decrease criminalized the possession of small amounts of hard drugs, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.
The initiative was accompanied by new investments in addiction treatment and support services.
The move was hailed by national drug reform advocates whove long condemned the so called war on drugs as a self defeating policy that filled prisons, disproportionately, harmed the poor and communities of color, and failed to deter drug use.
But three and a half years later, public opinion has turned against the groundbreaking approach, and the state legislature has acted to restore criminal penalties for hard drugs.
The state experienced rising overdose deaths and high rates of drug use.
And open air drug use in streets, parks and camping areas unnerved many residents.
Our guest, journalist E.
Tammy Kim, wrote about the Oregon experience in the New Yorker, speaking with activists, treatment providers, police, lawmakers and drug users, among others.
Kim is a contributing writer for the New Yorker, covering labor in the workplace, arts and culture, poverty and politics, and the Koreas.
She previously worked as a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and a staff writer for Al Jazeera America.
Kim is an attorney who worked in New York for low wage workers and families facing medical debt before entering journalism.
Her January story in the New Yorker is titled, a drug decriminalization fight Erupts in Oregon.
Well, Etam E.
Kim, welcome to fresh air.