‘Amazing’: Deschutes County treatment services seeing successful start to Measure 110 reform’s deflection program

(Update: Adding video, comments from Ideal Option and homeless)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- It's been nearly three weeks since the new Measure 110 reforms and deflection program began in Deschutes County and across the state -- and at this point, local treatment services are calling it a miracle. 

"I don't know that it could have started any less seamless than it was," Ideal Option Director of Community Development Josh Lair said Thursday.

House Bill 4002 brings law enforcement back to the table and recriminalizes drug possession in the state, as drug possession again became a misdemeanor as of Sunday, Sept. 1. It's tied to each county developing and providing an option for treatment, known as deflection programs.

"Giving folks that like, want treatment an option for treatment, I think is just an amazing, amazing thing," Lair said.

Deschutes County is receiving $844,514 as its share of state grant funding for implementation of the new officer intervention program, working with the sheriff's office and Deschutes County Behavioral Health. This means law enforcement will be the first point of contact when meeting with suspected drug users, to provide resources for treatment and programs.

Just three weeks in, Deschutes County has seen significant success. Already, Redmond Police have sent one person completely through the treatment program. 

"Within two hours, we had that individual engaged in medication-assisted treatment, signed up for outpatient treatment with Best Care," Lair said. "We had him in detox that Sunday, two days later. He is now in sober housing."

Homeless people living on Franklin Avenue in Bend say they've noticed an increase in police presence, but one man says he's already seen positive change.

"Two weeks earlier, it was an absolute disaster - life and death situation," said Randall Hoover.

He says lives, including his own, have been saved by law enforcement in the area: "If it hadn't been for the police and the paramedics, me and a few other people they would've been carrying bodies out of here."

We spoke with District Attorney Steve Gunnels just days before the program began. He said incentivizing users to enter and follow through with treatment would make the program successful.

"They need an incentive to do it. Jail offers an incentive to getting off of drugs," he said.

The Ideal Option representative says five people are currently going through treatment, and hopes their success will bring more.

"What I do think is that word will travel on the streets about the amazing things that Best Care and Ideal Option are doing with this deflection program, and people are going to want the program," Lair said.