New Bend drug treatment center sees strong demand in the face of the rising opioid crisis

(Update: Adding full video, interview)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – “My story in addiction and recovery started at a young age,” Zack Ament says. “I had my first drink at 13, after my bar mitzvah, and it quickly spiraled from there.”

After getting arrested, Ament knew he had to turn his life around.

“My grades plummeted,” he recalled. “I became an untrustworthy person in my family.”

Now 13 years sober, Zack is driven by his struggles with drug addiction.

He’s now the co-CEO of Recover Together Bend, along with his brother Michael. Together, they recently opened a 15-bed adult detox facility.

And amid the rising problems of drug overdose and addiction, he said, “Our phones are ringing non-stop.”

RTB currently has seven clients in the two-month-old program and has had four graduates.

“The first step in anybody’s recovery is to medically have the substances leave their bodies.”

To graduate from the program, clients need to successfully complete their medical detox and participate in the clinical daily program for six to eight hours.

From there, they are referred to another program that addresses the reasons behind their drug use.

Michael says, “Seeing our first patients graduate and succeeding in our program has really been extraordinarily gratifying.”

A welcome face around the new facility is Spencer – a licensed therapy dog that loves to nap and walk with clients.

Zack says, “Addition is a family disease, and what I mean by that is that there’s just the person that’s struggling with the substances, but the toxicity does spread to family members as well.

“I’d say if you’re watching this right now, and you happen to be struggling with addiction, the time would be now to reach out for help,” he added.

Here's their announcement of the new treatment center, which already has a waiting list:

FAMILY TO BRING MUCH-NEEDED ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER TO BEND, OR

(New, Proven Approach Inspired By Family Member’s Personal Journey)

Bend, Oregon is about to be home to an addiction treatment program whose concept was inspired by one of its owner’s journey to sobriety.  Situated in the upscale community of Somerset, Recover Together Bend (RTB) will offer customized inpatient care at its five-acre, 15-bed residential facility.

After detox, clients undergo 30 to 90-day programs involving individual, group, family and experiential forms of therapy. 

Each patient’s treatment plan, which is customized to meet their individual needs, is designed with long-term sobriety as a goal.  After “graduating,” clients are encouraged to resume treatment by participating in RTB’s alumni and mentorship programs. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ranks Oregon #1 in the nation for methamphetamine and prescription opioid misuse while alcohol is the most misused substance in the state, with a little over 12% of Oregonians suffering from alcohol use disorder.  

Oregon’s youth are not exempt from the epidemic.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that 26% of people age 12+ have used marijuana in the last year, with some 47.28% of those 18-25 having experimented with the drug.  

RTB is a family-run enterprise. Husband/wife team Marvin Ament, MD and Judith Brill, MD head the organization that includes son, Michael, an attorney who serves as Co-CEO and manager of the facility; and his brother and Co-CEO Zack, whose own experience in substance misuse led to a career in the field.  

His initial endeavor, Westwind Recovery with several locations in Los Angeles, has been lauded by Newsweek Magazine for its novel approach and efficacy in treating those with substance misuse issues.