Rising crime, overdoses reflect pre-pandemic trends – not drug decriminalization – PSU study finds

Rising crime, overdoses reflect pre-pandemic trends – not drug decriminalization – PSU study finds

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Rising crime, overdoses reflect pre-pandemic trends – not drug decriminalization – PSU study finds - Salem Reporter

For years, critics have blamed Oregon’s 2020 ballot measure that decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs for the state’s rising crime and overdose rates. But a new study suggests otherwise.  Researchers from Portland State University’s Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice released their final report examining the impacts of years of major drug policy changes between 2008 and 2024 on crime and drug-related deaths. The report…