The fentanyl crisis prompted this US city to declare a state of emergency

Portland authorities have declared a 90-day state of emergency in an effort to curb the use and impact of fentanyl in the US city, the largest in the state of Oregon.

by the BBC

Widespread use of the synthetic painkiller fentanyl, 50 times more potent than heroin, is believed to be the culprit behind the rise in drug-related deaths in the North American country.

In Oregon, the increase coincided with the decision to decriminalize the use of most drugs, including fentanyl.

This Tuesday, top state and city officials said tolerated drug use is hurting Portland, a city that has seen homelessness and drug addiction on its streets in recent years.

Due to this incident many important companies and some residents have decided to move to other places.

According to Multnomah County, where Portland is located, the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths increased by 533% between 2018 and 2022.

Governor Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency and acknowledged the city was suffering “financial and reputational damage” from the fentanyl problem.

“Our country and our state have never seen such a deadly addiction, and we are all struggling to find answers,” he said in a statement.

Fentanyl use has become widespread in the United States in recent years, becoming a major political and health problem.

Its use and impact has grown exponentially. In 2016, fentanyl was behind 62% of overdose deaths in Washington. In 2022, it accounted for 96% of deaths related to drug abuse.

Read more at BBC