Join our Health and Public Safety Issue Committee at Kells Irish Pub on Wednesday, January 29, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm for a conversation about the implementation of deflection programs in response to Oregon House Bill 4002, which went into effect in fall 2024.

This recent legislation marked the end of Measure 110’s decriminalization of small amounts of drugs but maintained a focus on treatment by mandating the creation of deflection programs. These programs aim to “deflect” people caught with drugs away from the criminal justice system and connect them to treatment and support services instead.

Multnomah County’s deflection program is headquartered at the Coordinated Care Pathway Center in Southeast Portland. The county collaborates with several partners to extend services to other parts of the city and East County. In this panel, you’ll hear from one of those partners, Tony Vezina, executive director of 4D Recovery, which recently opened a new addiction treatment center in Gresham. Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg will also join us to discuss law enforcement’s role as a referral partner and how the new Gresham center is saving officers transport time and providing treatment closer to home.

This is an in-person event and will not be livestreamed or recorded, so we encourage you to join us live for this important conversation. Admission is free and open to non-members, but please RSVP here to help Kells plan for our group size.