LIFE IN HELL

ON PORTLAND’S FENTANYL CORNER, A DANCE WITH DEATH SELLS FOR $20

2023 FREELANCE WORK FOR THE WILLAMETTE WEEK COVERING THE GROWING FENTANYL CRISIS HITTING THE STREETS OF PORTLAND, OREGON. I’VE INCLUDED BITS FROM THE FULL ARTICLE IN THE CAPTIONS. THE FULL JULY COVER STORY CAN BE READ HERE.

If you want to buy fentanyl in downtown Portland, the choice spot is the corner of Southwest 6th Avenue and Harvey Milk Street. The market opens at 6 pm, after cops and commuters go home to their families.

The sellers are often kids who wear black ski masks and look barely old enough to drive. On any given evening, this downtown intersection, ringed by some of Portland’s swankiest hotels, is manned by a half-dozen dealers peddling the most dangerous dr — The sellers are often kids who wear black ski masks and look barely old enough to drive. On any given evening, this downtown intersection, ringed by some of Portland’s swankiest hotels, is manned by a half-dozen dealers peddling the most dangerous drug in America.

Oregon has the highest rate of drug use disorder in the country, and the fastest-growing fatal overdose rate among teenagers.... Portland’s fentanyl problem go back more than 10 years to when pharmaceutical companies flooded the county with powerful — Oregon has the highest rate of drug use disorder in the country, and the fastest-growing fatal overdose rate among teenagers.... Portland’s fentanyl problem go back more than 10 years to when pharmaceutical companies flooded the county with powerful prescription opioids like OxyContin... The latest escalation is fentanyl, which is commonly found in counterfeit pills, called “blues,” that mimic the appearance of the prescription opioid they replaced.

The sale and use of opioids in downtown Portland is a perennial story, featured on the cover of WW since the 1970s, when the Rose City became a heroin hot spot. What’s different about the fentanyl market is the potency of its product. In 2009, there — The sale and use of opioids in downtown Portland is a perennial story, featured on the cover of WW since the 1970s, when the Rose City became a heroin hot spot. What’s different about the fentanyl market is the potency of its product. In 2009, there were 94 overdose deaths in Multnomah County. But it was just the first stage of an opioid crisis.

Overdoses have surged in Portland over the past few years. Last year, the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office recorded more than 350 overdose deaths involving opioids, nearly triple the number only three years earlier, an increase driven by fe — Overdoses have surged in Portland over the past few years. Last year, the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office recorded more than 350 overdose deaths involving opioids, nearly triple the number only three years earlier, an increase driven by fentanyl.

This intersection, and the people who frequent it, are at the center of a myriad of crises facing not only Portland, but the nation: an epidemic of addiction and homelessness, understaffed and beleaguered first responders—and a staggering number of d — This intersection, and the people who frequent it, are at the center of a myriad of crises facing not only Portland, but the nation: an epidemic of addiction and homelessness, understaffed and beleaguered first responders—and a staggering number of deaths.

What’s now being sold on this corner is a drug so powerful and unpredictable that observers can watch its victims collapse within feet of obtaining it. Unlike with heroin, every hit can be a potential overdose. The people who use it choose between ri — What’s now being sold on this corner is a drug so powerful and unpredictable that observers can watch its victims collapse within feet of obtaining it. Unlike with heroin, every hit can be a potential overdose. The people who use it choose between risking their lives with each injection, or smoking it, which often means brutal withdrawal symptoms within hours.

Exit strategies from fentanyl are hard to find. Especially in Portland. Oregon has half the drug treatment beds it needs. The state lost nearly 150 during the pandemic.

The result is the situation on the streets, says Jason Renaud of the Mental Health Association of Portland. “Right now, if someone wants to get clean and sober, there’s no door for them to do that.”

Robert is a 33-year-old man with piercing blue eyes and tightly cropped brown hair who grew up in a small town in Eastern Washington. He wants to eventually enter a methadone program, where he can get a supply of the long-acting opioid used to wean s — Robert is a 33-year-old man with piercing blue eyes and tightly cropped brown hair who grew up in a small town in Eastern Washington. He wants to eventually enter a methadone program, where he can get a supply of the long-acting opioid used to wean substance abusers off street drugs.

County officials are debating the merits of distributing tin foil and pipes to encourage safer drug use. For Robert, who’s motivated to get clean and get off the street, the process has been frustratingly slow. He says he’s on the waitlist at the cou — County officials are debating the merits of distributing tin foil and pipes to encourage safer drug use. For Robert, who’s motivated to get clean and get off the street, the process has been frustratingly slow. He says he’s on the waitlist at the county’s new downtown shelter.

But more than 40% of the people who wait in line at Central City Concern’s detox facility are turned away for lack of room. And methadone clinics are notorious for their long waitlists. “They say there’s help for us if we want it, but it’s really not — But more than 40% of the people who wait in line at Central City Concern’s detox facility are turned away for lack of room. And methadone clinics are notorious for their long waitlists. “They say there’s help for us if we want it, but it’s really not that easy to get,” Robert says. “It’s a waiting game—and a lot of people don’t make it.”