‘I saw a whole other class of zombies’: Bend homeless share stories of M. 110 impacts ahead of reforms, ‘deflection’

(Update: Adding video, comments from DA and homeless, KTVZ.COM Poll)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Oregon's four-year-long Measure 110 drug decriminalization experiment is approaching its end next week, after legislators and the governor signed off on recriminalization and new reforms, but left many of the details up to each county to work out.

Fentanyl, meth and cocaine continue to be very accessible on the streets of Central Oregon - and for the past four years, homeless living in Bend say, Measure 110's decriminalization of drug possess has made it worse.

"I've had to save several lives that I would not have normally had to save, "a homeless man who goes by the name "Smokey" said Monday. "I've seen people that basically the lights go out, and they turn into thieves and crooks."

House Bill 4002 brings law enforcement back to the table and recriminalizes drug possession in the state, as drug possession again becomes a misdemeanor, as of Sunday, Sept. 1.

Each county has been directed to create its own "deflection" program, with a goal of fewer people facing potential drug possession charges ending up in jail, if they agree to enter into treatment programs to end their addictions, hopefully for good.

Deschutes County received $844,514 as its share of state grant funding for implementation of the new officer intervention program, working with Deschutes County Behavioral Health. This means law enforcement will be the first point of contact when meeting with suspected drug users to provide resources for treatment and programs.

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels explained, "The police can give the person a citation to appear in court - and also at the same time, give them a connection to drug treatment, so that the individual can then go and follow up a drug treatment."

Gunnels says the problem with Measure 110 was that it didn't offer incentives or punishment, to push people into treatment.

"Part of it is the stick, and hopefully getting well is the carrot," the DA said. "But it's not always true that people who are addicted to hard drugs care enough about getting well to just get off of drugs, for the sake of getting well. They need an incentive to do it. Jail offers an incentive to getting off of drugs."

Jon Corbell recently made it off the streets, but comes back every day to check on friends. He moved to Bend from Austin, Texas to avoid drugs, but says the fentanyl crisis here is the worst he's seen.

"I drove to Albuquerque, and I drove through Phoenix, and I got here and I saw a whole other class of, like, zombies," he said Monday. "As long as there's a need, there is going to be a dealer."

Many on the street agree law enforcement should be involved when it comes to fentanyl. Clarance Scripture, who has been homeless in Bend for nine years, says more treatment resources need to be offered.

"I feel like we need more outreach," he said. "I definitely am a firm believer in harm reduction. I always carry Narcan. I try to carry fresh points (needles) for people that need them, because I just want to keep people safe."