Oregon Gov Tina Kotek responds to lack of detox beds as deflection rolls out

SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek promises to address Oregon’s treatment bed shortage this legislative session.

When asked about the shortage during a press event on Friday, Kotek pointed to state and local funding that is going towards a little over a dozen residential treatment beds in Portland.

“The Central City Concern project that was funded both by state and local dollars will be going online this year. That’s additional treatment beds for folks who are needing that,” she said. “We do have a gap there I’ll be coming into the next legislative session with an additional next to ask of regionally what can we do to provide more beds for folks?”

She did not say if that would be a budget ask but noted that she is currently preparing her budget asks for the legislature.

Recently, the Oregon Health Authority reported that over 3,000 residential treatment beds are needed for people with addiction and or mental health issues.

Multnomah County only has 105 detox beds with some Portland providers reporting they end up turning away 60 percent of potential clients.

Recovery advocates say these shortages are making for a bumpy rollout of deflection programs meant to detour people struggling with addiction away from the criminal justice system and into treatment. Enforcement of a new drug possession misdemeanor just took effect on Sept. 1.

Last year, lawmakers heard from experts on a lack of funding in schools to teach kids about the dangers of drugs but major changes to that were not enacted last legislative session.

Kotek says this will also be a priority for her this session and added that she has also been focused on providing resources for youth struggling with mental health issues.

“If we can get it at the front end when kids are struggling we’re going to have more success so they don’t Try to compensate for their concerns with drugs or other things,” she said noting that she has put together a work group that is focused on addressing mental health amongst youth.

“We will be having more information there as we get through the end of the year, but that just kicked off last week so we’re very much focused on the whole child because if the child is feeling safe and feeling supported they’re going to show up and they’re going to learn and that’s that’s something we as adults have to focus on,” she said.

Kotek did not specify how sizeable her budgetary ask would be for these issues.