Oregon’s drug decriminalization under Measure 110 has been widely labeled a “failed experiment.” But what does the data actually show?
New research published in Academia Global and Public Health (April 2026), along with a 2023 JAMA Psychiatry study, finds that the sharp rise in fatal overdoses began in December 2019—well before Measure 110 took effect in February 2021. Statistical analysis show Oregon’s trends closely mirrored those in neighboring states (Washington, California, Nevada, Idaho), with no detectable additional harm from decriminalization.
I examine why the failure narrative took hold despite the evidence and what this means for future drug policy discussions.
Read the full article on the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH). [here]
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