To win the fight against opiate addiction, experts say homelessness must be addressed
As Portland grapples with both a housing shortage and an opiate addiction crisis, a new bill was proposed last month to ameliorate some of its effects.
On January 17, Representative Drew Gattine (District 34, Westbrook) submitted emergency legislation aimed at addressing the intersecting issues of homelessness and opiate addiction.
Staff at the Preble Street Resource Center recently reported that last year they were reversing overdoses almost every week, and 100 percent of those they helped sought treatment elsewhere but couldn’t find it. In 2016, Bob Fowler, the executive director of the Milestone Foundation, said that his detox center turns away about 100 people in need every month.
Gattine’s legislation — LD 1711, Resolve To Save Lives by Establishing a Homeless Opioid Users Service Engagement Pilot Project (H.O.U.S.E.) — says it will provide access to a “medication first” system of low-barrier medication-assisted treatment and rapid housing (from existing housing stock) with “intensive support options to ensure paths to recovery.” The bill would also provide temporary housing assistance for clients until they can start working again.
Read more: https://www.conwaydailysun.com/portland_phoenix/to-win-the-fight-against-opiate-addiction-experts-say-homelessness/article_38819660-05ce-11e8-8816-97ad9df6e621.html