(b) The people of Oregon further find that a health-based approach to addiction and overdose is more effective, humane and cost-effective than criminal punishments. Making people criminals because they suffer from addiction is expensive, ruins lives and can make access to treatment and recovery more difficult.
(2)(a) The purpose of the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act of 2020 is to make screening, health assessment, treatment and recovery services for drug addiction available to all those who need and want access to those services and to adopt a health approach to drug addiction by removing criminal penalties for low-level drug possession.
(b) It is the policy of the State of Oregon that screening, health assessment, treatment and recovery services for drug addiction are available to all those who need and want access to those services.
(3) The provisions of chapter 2, Oregon Laws 2021, shall be interpreted consistently with the findings, purposes and policy objectives stated in this section and shall not be limited by any policy set forth in Oregon law that could conflict with or be interpreted to conflict with the purposes and policy objectives stated in this section. [2021 c.2 §1; 2021 c.591 §1]
Note: 430.383 to 430.392 were enacted into law but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 430 or any series therein by law. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.