A 90-day state of emergency has been declared by officials in Portland as part of an effort to tackle the use of fentanyl in Oregon’s largest city.
A synthetic painkiller 50 times more powerful than heroin, fentanyl has been blamed for a rise in US drug deaths.
In Oregon, the rise coincided with a move to decriminalise the use of most drugs, including fentanyl.
But on Tuesday, senior state and city officials said Portland was being damaged by open use of the drug.
The city has been struggling from homelessness and drug use in recent years, causing several major businesses and some residents to move out of the city.
According to Multnomah County – where Portland is located – the number of overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased by 533% between 2018 and 2022.
Governor Tina Kotek, announcing the state of emergency, conceded that the city was suffering “economic and reputational harm” from the ongoing fentanyl problem.
Rea more at BBC.com
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