REDMOND, OR -- Oregon is distributing millions of dollars for opioid treatment centers. The money comes from the Opioid Settlement with the pharmaceutical industry. The latest allocation is $1.25 million to open a medication-assisted treatment center in Redmond. 

Kelsey Smith Payne, with the Oregon Health Authority, says a clinic in Bend sees patients from Madras and Prineville, "The plan was to open a medication unit in Redmond, so Redmond could utilize and share staff with the Bend site." She adds, "It's to address the opioid and overdose across the continuum; so prevention, treatment, harm reduction, recovery." The clinic could start seeing patients this fall. "It's shovel ready, this is ready to go," says Smith Payne, "Just looking for the staffing costs. We estimated for about a year-and-a-half and then, again, it's sustainable."

The goal is to reduce travel time, which has been found to be one reason people stop seeking treatment. David Hart, with the Oregon Department of Justice, says it's a good use for the money, "The fact that it's shovel ready, the fact that it's sustainable, that it's a proven intervention; one of the most effective out there."

State Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission member Fernando Pená says this is exactly what the settlement money is supposed to be for, "We agreed at the beginning of this whole board that our primary objective was to save lives and this is literally a life saving program." He adds, "We could always fund other things to increase access to care and this is a quick and easy one that's in front of us and we'll have more money coming real soon to talk about other projects."

Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties are the fastest growing in the state, so the committee hope the additional facility will help manage the demand.