In the year since Oregon once again made minor drug possession a misdemeanor crime, more than two dozen counties have experimented — with mixed success — in moving low-level drug offenders away from jail and into substance abuse treatment. In the first 11 months, police and other first responders statewide referred just under 2,000 people to programs known as deflection and about 1,300 went on to participate in them. Deflection operates outside of the court system and relies on the person connecting with treatment providers and recovery mentors. Read more at the link in our bio. 📸: mark_w_graves #drugarrests #drugcourt #deflection #oregon #portlandoregon #theoregonian