People who abuse illegal drugs are not always people who want to get healthy and get off drugs.

That’s a structural problem with Measure 110.

The state of Oregon has invested and has plans to invest in more treatment. The state has decriminalized possession amounts of drugs.

Hand an addict information about treatment and some will not want it. Some may want it, but addiction is controlling. It subverts logic and making good choices. The choice for many addicts will be to get high again and then get high again.

The state has released a new audit of Measure 110. It outlines useful information about spending on treatment. And that’s where its utility ends.

The state awarded $260 million to providers. It filled some gaps in services. And for every person that helped and will help, we are grateful.

Treatment can be effective. We have personally seen some of those state dollars in action. For instance, there are apartments now in Redmond funded by Measure 110 dollars where moms can get a secure place to live and get treatment. It can keep a mom and her kids together and turn around her life so the children get a decent opportunity, too.

That’s one example of a valuable way Measure 110 dollars are in action. There are many more.

But Measure 110 is not just about more dollars for treatment. It also promotes a systemic permissiveness of use of drugs.

There is essentially no penalty in Oregon for minor levels of possession of heroin or crack.

If someone gets a ticket for possession, nothing happens if the person does not pay the fine or seek treatment.

Oregonians have put in place a system with Measure 110 where there is more treatment. It also can be easier for addiction to win.