A new harm reduction initiative in Portland, Oregon, is causing a stir, with the plan to distribute "snorting kits" to drug users facing opposition even from the city's Democratic mayor. The Multnomah County Health Department recently announced the program, which aims to provide drug users with alternative consumption methods for fentanyl, including tin foil, straws, and the aforementioned kits.
Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed his strong disapproval, arguing that the initiative encourages drug use, especially of fentanyl, a leading cause of death among Americans under 50. City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez echoed these concerns, calling the distribution of paraphernalia "reckless" in a community already grappling with the devastating effects of fentanyl.
This plan comes amidst a backdrop of record-high drug overdoses in the US, exceeding 100,000 in 2022. "Snorting kits," typically containing a straw, razor, and flat surface, have been distributed in other cities by harm reduction organizations, who argue they minimize infection risks associated with sharing paraphernalia and encourage a shift away from injection drug use.
While needle exchange programs, which provide clean syringes, remain widely accepted and operate across numerous states, harm reduction strategies extending beyond needles have often faced significant pushback. Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services launched its first federal harm reduction grant program, which includes funding for "smoking kits" but explicitly excludes pipes used for smoking drugs. This delicate balance between harm reduction and enabling drug use continues to fuel debate across the country.
