Multnomah County Health Department’s recent $84,212.93 expenditure on ‘smoking supplies’ for local drug users has generated public uproar. The program, temporarily suspended due to the backlash, intended to support harm reduction strategies by providing safer drug consumption equipment. Around $42,966 was spent on more than 55,000 pipes of various types, a decision which has sparked serious debate over the appropriateness and fiscal responsibility of such a strategy. Additional funds went to everyday items like copper scouring pads, aluminum foil, and chapstick, known to serve alternative functions in the context of drug use. While the County Health Department maintains the program is a necessary harm reduction approach, critics argue this is an irresponsible use of taxpayer money.
