Long-term recovery is the key to HB 4002 ‘deflection’ success, Bend treatment center says

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- It's still early days for House Bill 4002, which recriminalized drug possession in the state, as local governments and law enforcement learn from its first month in place. Recover Together Bend reports early success, having treated more than a dozen people this month.

"Good treatment centers can take a 1% bit of willingness and turn it into 100 at the end of a program. That's what we try to do here, and that's what really matters," said Clinical Director Dr. David Campbell.

He says the focus for Deschutes County's program should be long-term action.

"They need to be taught skills in order to recover, to return to a productive member of society, to regain that sense of dignity and purpose. And you can find that in treatment, but you cannot find that in jail," he said Thursday.

Kevin Woodson has been clean for 10 years and lives in his car in Bend.

"We just had a guy die Thursday night, Friday morning of alcoholism. Because he didn't get into a program and he didn't get clean, he's dead," Woodson said. "And that's the risk, being on drugs and alcohol. They don't know how far into it they are until the very last day."

He says since the new program began, he's noticed an increase in Bend police officers on Franklin Avenue, and even a drop in the availability of drugs.

"I think the drugs are really coming down. I think the cops are doing their job, because we see a lot of them here, just busting everybody," Woodson said.

Despite its successes, Campbell says Central Oregon treatment centers are still struggling, with Recover Together Bend helping as many people as it can.

"There is so much of a demand for treatment, for detoxification, for residential treatment, which are all very necessary for the establishment of long-term recovery. Central Oregon cannot yet meet that demand," he said.