The Ineffectiveness of Ending Drug Busts in Preventing Drug Overdose

The argument that reducing drug busts will save lives by decreasing overdose deaths is flawed. While there may be a short-term correlation between drug busts and overdose deaths, the evidence is limited and inconclusive. Decriminalization measures like Oregon's Measure 110 have actually led to a significant increase in overdose rates. Similar trends can be seen in New York and San Francisco. The fundamental cause of overdoses is the drugs themselves, particularly fentanyl, which is responsible for 75% of opioid-related deaths. Reducing drug busts will only flood the market with more fentanyl, exacerbating the overdose crisis. Instead, efforts should focus on addressing addiction and implementing a multi-pronged approach that includes overdose prevention, treatment centers, and targeting street fentanyl.