Portland's drug deflection center set to open after delay
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Portland's deflection center will offer drug users an alternative to arrest. Photo: Kale Williams/Axios
After weeks of delay, Multnomah County's deflection center is set to open Monday, offering drug users an alternative to criminal charges when caught with hard drugs like fentanyl.
Why it matters: The center is a key part of how the county will comply with a law passed this year that rolled back drug decriminalization in the state.
Catch up quick: The center — in Portland's Central Eastside and officially known as the Coordinated Care Pathway Center — was slated to open Sept. 1, but was delayed by more than a month after officials had trouble finding and training staff.
- The center also faced pushback from neighbors and nearby businesses, including the social club Soho House and a preschool that sued the county to block the center.
- A county spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit but said negotiations with neighbors over the impact of the center are ongoing.
What's inside: Days before opening, media were offered a tour of the center, which has the feel of a medical facility.
- Patients will meet with a triage team – made up of nurses, caseworkers and peer recovery specialists – to determine what level of care they need.
- The facility, which can handle up to 10 patients per day, is equipped with exam rooms and a communal area with recliners where patients wait as their care team determines next steps, which could include withdrawal management, residential treatment or referral to a shelter.
- Under the new guidelines, anyone stopped by law enforcement for possessing illegal drugs for personal use — and who has not committed other crimes — can avoid jail by agreeing to an initial screening and engaging with a referred treatment provider within 30 days.
What they're saying: "The patient's needs will determine what approach we're going to take," said Bernard Gyebi-Foster, CEO of Tuerk House, the nonprofit running the center. "We think this will be a great service to the city."
What's next: The center has an expansion in the works, with officials saying it will operate as a 16-bed sobering center by April.