‘It’s a very serious crisis’: State agency allocates $1.25 million for new Redmond opioid treatment center

(Update: Adding video, comments from OHA and Redmond treatment center, KTVZ.COM Poll)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A $1.25 million allocation by the Opioid Settlement Prevention, Treatment & Recovery Board focusing on Redmond aims to expand and strengthen Central Oregon’s access to substance use disorder treatment and services through opioid treatment programs and jails. 

"It's a very serious crisis. It's the worst time to be a drug addict that I've ever seen in my career," said Treleaven, the owner of BestCare Treatment Services in Redmond, said Monday. He sits on the state Opioid Settlement Board and helped make the funding decision.

The allocation, which the Oregon Health Authority will administer, will improve access to medication for opioid use disorder and treatment services by providing up to $1.25 million to fund an opioid treatment program or a mobile or non-mobile medication unit in Redmond to serve a geographic region with increasing need.

The funding comes from lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies that have contributed to the crisis.

"The strategies that they were using to sell their products back in the 90s, in 2000, and early 2000 were unconscionable. They knew it was unconscionable. They knew it was unethical. They did it anyways," Treleaven said.

To be eligible for the funding, a mobile or non-mobile medication unit or an opioid treatment program must be currently certified by OHA.  

According to Treleaven, the new treatment center will be run as a satellite facility to the one operated in Bend by Oregon Recovery & Treatment Centers (ORTC). He believes it is the only center in Central Oregon offering methadone for treatment, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.

At present, many patients have to travel to Bend from Prineville and Madras for daily treatment.

"Fentanyl has hit Prineville and Madras, too. And so some of those folks, we provide services using buprenorphine and suboxone up there in those two communities," Treleaven said Monday.

That view is echoed by Dr. John McIlveen, a program and policy development specialist with OHA's Opioid Treatment Authority.

"Geography is really important for an OTP" (opioid treatment provider), McIlveen said. "For the simple reason, it's the only place in the United States you can directly receive methadone for treatment of opioid use disorder, so that's really crucial."

He says Central Oregon is the fastest-growing region in the state for opioid overdoses. 

Deschutes County declared a 90-day fentanyl state of emergency at the beginning of this year, as overdoses doubled from 2018 to 2022.

Treleaven hopes the new center in Redmond will reverse the trend of overdoses.

"Not only is Redmond growing quickly, and has its own needs, but it allows us as a state, as a system to have services provided in both Madras and Prineville in a cost-effective manner," he said.

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More from OHA's news release:

The board’s decision can be viewed in a recording of its August 7 meeting here. 

 “People in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties must currently go to Bend for opioid treatment program services, and drive times between Bend and Redmond are rapidly increasing due to the area being the fastest-growing region in the state,” said State Opioid Treatment Authority and Settlement Board member John McIlveen. “Opening a medication unit in Redmond will significantly decrease travel times for patients, which is one of the main predictors for people both entering into, and remaining in, treatment.” 

Prior to awarding funding, OHA must provide a proposed timeline and implementation plan to the board for approval no later than Sept. 1.  

Since July 2021, the State of Oregon has reached agreement on national lawsuits against several companies for their role in the opioid crisis. Through these agreements, nearly $600 million will be awarded to Oregon over 18 years.

Settlement funds from opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies are divided between the state (45%) and local jurisdictions (55%). The state’s share is deposited as it becomes available into the Opioid Settlement, Prevention, Treatment and Recovery (OSPTR) Fund, which is controlled by the OSPTR Board.  

Local jurisdictions receiving settlement funds (those with populations greater than 10,000) decide how their funds are used. Cities and counties are required to report to the Oregon Department of Justice annually how they allocated funds. 

For state and local spending details, read the Oregon Opioid Settlement Spending Report. To learn more about Oregon’s opioid settlement funds, visit oregon.gov/opioidsettlement.