"Portland Declares 90-Day State of Emergency to Combat Fentanyl Crisis"

Oregon leaders, including Gov. Tina Kotek, declared a 90-day state of emergency in downtown Portland to address the deadly fentanyl crisis, citing a significant increase in opioid overdose deaths. The emergency order will allocate resources for public health campaigns, increased outreach for treatment and recovery services, and collaboration between law enforcement agencies to hold drug sellers accountable. The move comes in response to a surge in fentanyl-related deaths and overdoses, with the state experiencing a drastic increase in opioid overdose deaths from 280 in 2019 to 956 in 2022.