But outside of having his vital signs purportedly checked a few times by paramedics, Mr. Bohanan received no medication or treatment for his withdrawal.
Pink and Mr. Bohanan for low-level drug crimes while continuing to penalize dealers — known as decriminalization — are working or are counterproductive.
They point to recent rises in overdoses and disorder like public drug use in Oregon, which decriminalized small amounts of drug possession in 2021, and in Portugal, which decriminalized drug possession in 2001 and was the model for Oregon’s law.
People tend to assume that arrests for possession result in offers of treatment, and that treatment is available for anyone in jail who wants help.
But as the Butler County cases illustrate, arrest and incarceration often block access to treatment rather than bolster it.
Persons:
Cody Bohanan, Bohanan, “
Organizations:
Columbia University
Locations:
Butler, Ohio, Oregon, Portugal