Treatment Over Jail Struggles | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 13, 2026 · 1m

Multnomah County’s ambitious drug treatment diversion program, launched in 2024, is still struggling to attract participants despite millions invested. With barely one or two people entering treatment daily, officials are tightening requirements and introducing legal consequences for non-compliance to boost accountability. Yet the core problem remains: low referral numbers, largely due to overwhelmed law enforcement unable to prioritize drug enforcement referrals. While police acknowledge they could identify more eligible individuals with more resources, critics question relying on them for…