Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs in Portland
The green, lush city of Portland, Oregon—world-renowned for its love of art, its free-wheelin' culture, and its liberal politics—has also long been known as a city with one of the worst homeless problems on the west coast, perhaps even in the whole country at large. And of course, with the incredible challenge of rampant homelessness comes the incredible challenge of widespread drug addiction.
Many people think that areas with a high rate of homelessness suffer the most from heroin, but that's probably because heroin is the drug most often portrayed in movies and television. In 2016, methamphetamine contributed to more deaths in Oregon than heroin and effectively matched the death rate from prescription opioids. Among Portland's homeless, the first drug of choice is actually methamphetamine, and it may have something to do with the local climate. Portland has the dubious distinction of having basically three wet, rainy, cold seasons out of the year, and when surveyed, many homeless people attribute methamphetamine to being like "anti-freeze." In addition to strong feelings of euphoria, methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant and makes users want to constantly move, which can help keep a person without shelter warm on a bone-chilling winter evening. Since sleeping can also be quite dangerous for a homeless person (as it leaves them vulnerable to being robbed or attacked) meth provides another advantage: the ability to stay up for days and days on end without ever getting tired. Another advantage to meth over heroin is that it doesn't require the poke of a needle and all the dangers that come along with it. Meth can be smoked, ingested, or injected.
It's well known that the state of Oregon as whole has long suffered from drug addiction, and a recent study confirmed it. The results were absolutely sobering. Oregon ranked first for marijuana, as well as first for misuse of prescription pain killers (opioids.) It also ranked second in the country for methamphetamine use, and fourth for cocaine. We can only hope that the beautiful city of Portland—a powerful business hub in the region, and a draw for artists around the world--can get a hold on its tidal wave of drug abuse before more damage is done.
The city of Portland, Oregon has a population of 774,561. In cities across the state, addicts and families of addicts alike experience the problems and issues of drug and alcohol abuse. This region of the country is no exception to the pain and suffering that drug addiction and alcoholism brings to people and communities.
With quick access to drugs like meth, alcohol, marijuana, and heroin and other addictive substances in the community, there are problems of addiction in the area. Fortunately, there are also 83 drug and alcohol rehab programs available.
Addiction Treatment Service Settings and Treatment Approaches In The Area
There are short term drug and alcohol rehabs, long term treatment facilities, outpatient hospital programs, inpatient drug rehab programs, outpatient detox programs and other options. These drug and alcohol rehab centers in Portland, OR. provide multiple different types of treatment such as substance abuse counseling approach, anger management, rational emotive behavioral therapy, behavior modification, vocational rehabilitation services, dialectical behavior therapy and more.
Special Programs for Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Forms of Payment Accepted
Substance abuse treatment differs depending on the type and severity of the addiction. This is why centers often offer special programs for persons who have experienced sexual abuse, programs for the hearing impaired, social skills development, legal advocacy, active duty military, treatment for spanish-speaking clients, and others. Addiction treatment can be paid for in several different ways: private health insurance, cash or self-payment, sliding fee scale, payment assistance, state corrections or juvenile justice funds, state welfare or child and family services funds and other methods of payment in the listings below that service the area.
If you live in Portland, Oregon and you are struggling with an addiction problem, get the help that you need now, it is available to you.
