Multnomah County expands referral access to boost sobering services use
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Multnomah County will now allow several groups that specialize in addiction and behavioral health care to refer patients to its sobering services — something only police could do before.
Why it matters: Since opening 13 sobering beds at its Southeast Portland deflection center in April, the county's sobering services have seen limited use despite high need.
By the numbers: Only 26 people have used the beds as of June 20, according to the Oregonian.
- Yes, but: Nearly all of those individuals were initially referred through the county's deflection program — meaning they were detained by law enforcement for possessing illegal drugs but steered toward treatment as a way to avoid jail.
State of play: County officials tapped five organizations — Portland Street Response, Project Respond, Community Health Assess and Treat, the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon and 4D Recovery — as partners to encourage more use of its sobering services.
- These street outreach teams can refer individuals who voluntarily agree, are substance-impaired and unable to care for themselves to the 24/7 temporary deflection center for a safe place to sober up.
Flashback: Portland's last sobering center closed in 2020 due to a combination of increasing cases of aggressive behavior and substance use that the staff couldn't support.
- A new sobering center, on the corner of Portland's Southeast Grand Avenue and Division Street, has been delayed from next year to fall 2027.
What's next: County officials are considering purchasing a dedicated transport van to streamline access and boost usage rates.