"Portland Declares 90-Day State of Emergency for Fentanyl Crisis"

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson declared a 90-day state of emergency for downtown Portland due to the fentanyl-fueled public health and safety crisis, aiming to connect addicts with resources and crack down on drug sales. A new command center will triage those addicted to fentanyl, while a joint effort between Portland Police Bureau and Oregon State Police will patrol downtown streets for fentanyl sales. The program also includes information campaigns on drug use prevention and recovery programs, with the next 90 days serving as a roadmap for future steps in addressing the synthetic opioid crisis.