Facing critical lack of youth addiction resources, Oregon funds treatment center remodel

Portland, Oregon (KATU) — There's a lack of addiction resources in Oregon, especially for children. As drug and addiction issues continue to escalate, the most vulnerable in society struggle to find help.

"We don't have the beds. We've lost the beds, over the last 10 years or so, that we need. And to really be able to help our youth, the first step is to get much-needed resources into the state," said Oregon Representative Charlie Conrad.

The Executive Director of recovery provider Madrona Recovery, Paul Bryant, agreed that there are not enough recovery beds in the state - and listed some startling numbers to support the claim.

"200 hundred beds plus [in the state] ... and now we're down to 42 beds. We absolutely need many more than that," said Bryant.

Many child treatment providers shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryant explained, while the number of minors seeking treatment has only skyrocketed.

"You add COVID. You add the introduction of fentanyl, the legalization of cannabis, all those different things layered on top of each other were crushing. I think COVID was the last straw for a lot of the programs," said Bryant.

However, new funding from the Oregon Health Authority has helped Madrona Recovery remodel its facility in Tigard. The OHA invested $3 million towards the renovation.

Bryant said this grant could not have come at a better time. The new funding allows Madrona to offer more services to inpatient youth and improve security.

Lawmakers at the statehouse are taking notice of both the mounting youth addiction crisis and of the resulting necessity of facilities like Madrona.

Representatives from both Oregon and Washington came to Madrona Recovery for a tour of the remodeled facility. Oregon representative Charlie Conrad was one of those.

"For the last 15 years or so we just haven't invested like we should have in this space. This session fortunately put some money back into it," said Rep. Conrad.

He said this new upgrade for Madrona is a step in the right direction.

"This is a good thing, this is the right step, and we just need to keep this momentum and keep talking about it and keep investing in it," said Rep. Conrad.

"It's going to take us a long time to recover from decades of lack of investment, but this is a good step. It's a step in the right direction."