WELL, IT'S OFFICIALLY SEPTEMBER FIRST. THAT MEANS HOUSE BILL 4,002 FINALLY TAKES EFFECT. ONLY TIME WILL TELL, THOUGH, IF IT WILL HELP. >> OREGON'S OPEN DRUG USE PROBLEMS. WELCOME TO KOIN. 6 NEWS ARIEL IACOBAZZI IN FOR LISA BALICK. THE NEW LAW RECRIMINATIONS IS SMALL AMOUNTS OF CONTROL, DRUG POSSESSION LIKE METH AND FENTANYL. THEY ARE NOW MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. TODAY ALSO STARTS THE FIRST ATTEMPT OF EACH COUNTY'S UNIQUE DEFLECTION POLICIES. ONE LOCAL ORGANIZATION, HOWEVER, FEARS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR ELSE ALL SPOKE WITH HIM ABOUT THE RISKS INTRODUCED BY BRINGING BACK LEGAL CONSEQUENCES FOR POSSESSING DRUGS. SHE JOINS US LIVE NOW IN SOUTHEAST PORTLAND. ARIEL, WHY IS HE WORRIED? >> MUCH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BLANCHET HOUSE. HE'S WORRIED THAT THERE WILL BE INCREASE OF DEATHS FROM OVERDOSES AS A RESULT. >> WE'RE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK OF OVERDOSE. STARTING TODAY, POLAND POLICE TO FIND ADULTS WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF CONTROLLED DRUGS LIKE METH OR FENTANYL WILL BE GIVEN A CHOICE, DEFLECTION OR JAIL TIME. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PARTICIPATING IN THE ENFORCEMENT. >> OF THE NEW LAW WITH ANY CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BE THEY LEGAL OR OTHERWISE. HOUSE TEAM READY TO BE KERMAN WITH THE BLANCHET HOUSE SERVES THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. >> HE FEARS CRIMINALIZATION COMES WITH A RISK. THE RISK THERE, OF COURSE, IS THAT IF SOMEONE GOES INTO AN OVERDOSE, NO MIGHT SEE THAT HAPPENING AND THEN CAN'T CALL FOR HELP. HE PREDICTS PEOPLE WON'T STOP USING DRUGS, JUST HIDE IT. WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY VIGILANT WITH REGARDS TO OUR SURROUNDINGS DOING PARKING CHECKS, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T BEING UNSAFE IN LOCATIONS WHERE OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT NOT BE RESCUED IF THEY NEED IT. WITH LIMITED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AVAILABILITY, DEFLECTION ISN'T ALWAYS AN OPTION. STARTING TUESDAY, DEFLECTION WILL ONLY BE OFFERED FROM 08:00AM TO APPROVED PROBATION. >> WANTS HIM TO GO TO JAIL. IT'S OUTSIDE THE HOURS AND NOBODY IS AVAILABLE. THEN IT'S MY EXPECTATION THAT THEY'LL ALSO GO TO JAIL. I THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW IN PORT. >> HAS TO HELP. THE NEW LAW WILL BE ENFORCED. KERMAN WANTS THE GOAL TO BE FOCUSED ON THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. I HOPE IT'S SUCCESSFUL. WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SUCCESS IN THIS COMMUNITY. >> WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY PLANS. BUT THE FDA SAYS HASTA BEYOND UNDERSTANDING THAT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IS IS A HEALTH CONDITION. IT IS SOMETHING THAT FOLKS CAN'T NECESSARILY CONTROL WITHOUT A LOT OF INTENSIVE TREATMENT AND SUPPORT. >> NO, I AND IF THE COMMUNITY HE SERVES IS AWARE OR WORRIED ABOUT THIS CHANGE THE LAW, HE SAYS TO BE FRANK, THEY