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Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is partnering with local recovery agencies to host Spring Into Recovery, an Open House & Recovery Resource Fair in Hot Springs. The event will be held at their addiction treatment clinic at 1820 Central Ave, Ste. D. Opening remarks from Arkansas State Drug Director Tom Fisher and Director of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training Chris Chapmond will kick things off.

Nine outpatient addiction treatment organizations have launched a new industry advocacy organization focused on office-based outpatient treatment (OBOT).

Monikered the National Alliance for Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Solutions (NACATS), the nonprofit advocacy organization is led by Spero Health co-founder and CEO Steve Priest. He has taken on the role of president of the organization. In its early days it will focus on issues related to comprehensive addiction treatment, a mode of care that the organization posits is undermined by payer and government policies and underinvestment in such models.

After a meeting at the Mesilla Valley Public Housing Authority, Athena Huckaby saw a man across the street who had fallen out of a wheelchair yelling for help. She and a stranger got him back into his chair when he began crying, telling her the story of his addiction and injury.

Huckaby ushered him into her car, loaded his wheelchair in her trunk and paid for him to stay a month in a local hotel, the period of time that he was banned from housing for substance use.

"The way we treat people is abhorrent to me, and I just can't stand it. And I can't help everybody, but if I can help one or two people, then that makes me better able to sleep at night," she said.

Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is hosting an Open House & Ribbon Cutting in Albany. The event will be held at their newly opened addiction medicine clinic, co-located with CHANCE Recovery, at 231 SE Lyon St.

Medical, behavioral and social services at the Gateway Center — a converted former hospital located at 400 Marquette Ave. NW — now include outpatient addiction treatment,

The announcement came in a news release from Ideal Option, a national substance addiction treatment company that has two other locations in Albuquerque.

The Ideal Option clinic offers medical treatment for addiction to fentanyl, meth, alcohol and other substances. The release said it welcomes patients and will accept walk-ins, has no waitlists, and accepts Medicaid.

Ideal Option, a national leader in evidence-based outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is now welcoming new patients at 5400 Gibson Blvd SE, Suite 11. The new low-barrier clinic is located inside the Gateway Center, a facility owned by the City of Albuquerque.

Within the Coeur d'Alene Police Department, there is a small task force that aims to lower the number of people dying each year from drug overdoses.

The Opioid Task Force has been around for a little less than a year. It is a small department of two people with a big job.

"We respond to overdose calls and provide assistance as needed," said Coeur d'Alene Police Chief White. "We provide training for first responders and we coordinate and engage nonprofits, health districts and school staff for training resources and then finally, we conduct investigations into illicit opioid trafficking and distribution."

Through a new state grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office will start providing injectable medication in addition to oral tablets by early March.

Addiction treatment medications can block feelings of withdrawal and cravings and can help people feel normal while starting sobriety. 

The main difference in injectable medication is that it stays in someone’s system for a month, while tablets, which are taken daily, will wear off within 48 hours once stopped. 

Public Health Professional Athena Huckaby, MPH,  joins this week’s program to speak about potential solutions to the opioid epidemic in Southern New Mexico.

Data released by the New Mexico Department of Health indicated a decrease in drug overdose deaths statewide for the second consecutive year since 2021.

In Doña Ana County, there were about 21 deaths by overdose per 100,000 people yearly from 2017 to 2021, according to data. There are more than 40 overdose related deaths in Doña Ana County yearly, with a population of 225,210, according to the 2023 U.S. Census.

"Yeah, we've seen an overall decreases in overdoses in the U.S. Primarily, the East Coast is seeing those decreases greater than out west," said Dr. Brian Dawson.

Dr. Dawson is the Chief Medical Officer for Ideal Option, an outpatient addiction treatment clinic.

He says there's a number of reasons for the decline.

He believes it has to do with access to treatment and changes to the drug supply.

"We're now seeing the drug supplies have changed. The illicit market and supply is mixed with multiple other substances, sedatives, xylazine and other drugs that drive down the potential lethality of the toxic opioid supply," said Dawson.

Dr. Dawson says he is encouraged by the data, but understands the work is not over.

Ideal Option hosted an open house at their new location on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

The clinic, located at 416 Frontage Road in Kenai, is part of a national organization that provides medication-assisted treatment for patients who have addictions to alcohol, opioids and other substances.

“We help people with the medication portion and then connect them to other resources,” Melanie Luna, Alaska outreach coordinator, said.

Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is partnering with local recovery agencies to host Giving Thanks & Giving Back, a Recovery Resource Fair in Pocatello. The event will be held at its addiction treatment clinic at 1950 E. Clark St., Suite 110. An opening address from Health Education Specialist Morgan Anderson with Southeastern Idaho Public Health will kick things off, followed by a current Ideal Option patient sharing their story of recovery.

Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is partnering with local recovery agencies to host Giving Thanks & Giving Back, a Recovery Resource Fair in Pocatello. The event will be held at their addiction treatment clinic at 1950 E Clark St, Ste. 110. An opening address from Health Education Specialist Morgan Anderson with Southeastern Idaho Public Health will kick things off, followed by a current Ideal Option patient sharing their story of recovery.

Health care providers from about half a dozen community health organizations were present for Ideal Option’s grand re-opening resource fair on Wednesday. The medication-assisted treatment facility first opened in Kenai six years ago. Its new location is in a strip mall in Kenai, just a few doors down from its former home on Frontage Road.

The facility has experienced an increase in patients over the last few years, and staff saw the need to expand to a larger location. The new space is equipped with three patient rooms, unlike the former location which only had one.

“We’re here to fully support those in and out of recovery," said Melanie Luna, Ideal Option’s Alaska outreach coordinator. "There is no judgment when they come into our doors, and so even if its six months down the line from the last time they got treatment, they can still come back and say ‘Hey, I think I’m ready again.’”

Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is partnering with local recovery agencies to host an Open House & Recovery Resource Fair in Kenai. The event will be held at their newly opened addiction treatment clinic at 416 Frontage Rd., Ste. 200. Adult Probation Officer Jodi Stuart with the Alaska Department of Corrections will give an opening address to kick things off.

The Opportunity Council is prioritizing addiction and substance use treatment for rural community members with a new outpatient center in East Whatcom County.

The East Whatcom Regional Resource Center (EWRRC), an Opportunity Council Community Resource Center in Maple Falls, is now operating an Ideal Option clinic offering specialized outpatient treatment for addiction.

“I think it’s so important to start recognizing the underserved population in the rural community,” Ideal Option Community Outreach Coordinator April Provost said. “It’s where we see the least amount of services, the least amount of support — and it’s just unacceptable.”

Health officials believe they’re gaining ground on the opioid crisis. New CDC data shows that national overdose deaths are declining for the first time in more than five years. The national decline is more than 10%.

“I’m optimistic and I’m excited,” says April Provost, an outreach coordinator with ‘Ideal Option’. The organization helps people across the state end their addiction cycle and find life-saving resources.

“There are all these wonderful things that we’re implementing and we’re finally seeing some of that pay off,” says Provost. She believes that the accessibility of Narcan and an increase in outreach services are a large part of why overdose deaths are declining across the county.

It's been nearly three weeks since the new Measure 110 reforms and deflection program began in Deschutes County and across the state -- and at this point, local treatment services are calling it a miracle. 

"I don't know that it could have started any less seamless than it was," Ideal Option Director of Community Development Josh Lair said Thursday.

House Bill 4002 brings law enforcement back to the table and recriminalizes drug possession in the state, as drug possession again became a misdemeanor as of Sunday, Sept. 1. It's tied to each county developing and providing an option for treatment, known as deflection programs.

On Thursday night the City of Las Cruces held a town hall to present the city’s most recent crime statistics, and to discuss how drugs like fentanyl and meth are affecting the community.

Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story was joined by experts in various fields related to the fentanyl crisis to discuss the increased use of drugs in the city, and to field questions from the public.

Christina Cratty was a teenager when she started using opioids.

Now, 25 years later, she’s finally clean, thanks to medication-assisted drug treatment.

“It feels like a dream,” Cratty said. “I don’t even recognize myself.”

On Thursday evening, Cratty and others shared stories of recovery at Snohomish County’s overdose awareness event on the county campus in Everett. They highlighted how controversial social programs like drug recovery court and medication-assisted treatment helped them find health and stability.

In Black Eagle an overdose awareness community barbecue took place on Saturday for International Overdose Awareness Day. The goal of the barbecue was not only to support those who have lost a loved one battling addiction, but to remind those who are battling to stay in the fight and that it can get better.

“This is just an important day,” said LaVonne Grosser, the organizer of the event. “It's International Overdose Awareness Day. And I just wanted to give honor… to those who we've loved and lost.”

On Saturday evening, there will be an Overdose Awareness Day event that will be held at Plaza de Las Cruces. Scott Brocato recently spoke with community outreach coordinator Athena Huckaby about the upcoming event.

Community members and organizations gathered outside the Federal Courthouse in Great Falls on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and to honor loved ones who passed away due to fentanyl overdoses.

Addiction treatment center Ideal Option hosted a Health Safety and Recovery Resource Fair in Great Falls where community members were invited to learn about resources for addiction and recovery.

Great Falls Mayor Cory Reeves kicked off the event with a speech about the importance each of these services brings to the betterment of the community and citizens of Great Falls. Reeves says he and the police department hope to work towards engaging with these organizations in aiding incarcerated addicts on their path to recovery.

Reeves explains, “The sheriff and I agree that we have a lot of people sitting in our jail that have no business sitting in jail. Yes, there's a time and place for a person to be incarcerated to protect society, but so many of our people who are incarcerated are addicted to opioids or alcohol or something to that effect, so I'd like to see us really get more engaged and utilize our community partners to get people healthy and let them get on a career path to success.”

About one in every six North Dakotans has a substance abuse problem. Often, people will visit addiction treatment clinics to help overcome their drug abuse disorders, with varied success.

Statistics vary from state to state, but the rate of success for people who complete treatment for drug abuse disorder is typically about 75%.

According to a report released by the treatment center Ideal Option, the majority of the nearly 1,000 patients who visited its clinics and completed its program kicked their addictions. Nurse practitioner Sarah Kucera said even though the report saw a growing number of people coming into one of Ideal Options’ five clinics across North Dakota for treatment, the majority of those who completed the center’s program stopped abusing fentanyl, meth, cocaine and more.

It's a killer. That is why one family in Harford County is using a billboard campaign to fight fentanyl deaths.

If you think it can't happen to you, think again. The Creighton family is hoping the billboards will save lives.

"It can happen to good people, it can happen to people you know,” said Mary Beth Creighton, whose son was just 31-years-old when he died because of fentanyl.

Seeing opioid use disorder up close, day in and day out, has made Garret Winfrey reevaluate his approach as a police officer. It’s clear people on drugs like fentanyl have “changed brains,” said Winfrey, the community outreach officer for Monroe.

April Provost agrees. She has been in recovery for about five years.

“Imagine that you’re starving and you’re locked in a cell away from food for several days,” said Provost, of Everett, who co-leads the Snohomish County Recovery Coalition. “All you can think about is how hungry you are. That’s what it’s like.”

A small portion of Americans who have alcohol use disorder (AUD) get potentially lifesaving and effective treatment.

Patients and providers alike overlook medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for AUD due to rather potent market forces. Unlike most substances for which people seek treatment, huge sectors of American society and the economy encourage the consumption of alcohol. Spirits suppliers alone generated $38 billion in sales in the U.S.

“A huge aspect of American social culture is using substances like alcohol,” Brian Dawson, chief medical officer of Ideal Option, told Addiction Treatment News. “It’s much harder for patients to avoid the triggers and pervasive availability of alcohol in our society, especially if they’re trying to integrate socially back into communities … In a lot of social situations, alcohol is the primary driver for the social occasion itself.”

Scott Brocato speaks with Ideal Option Community Outreach Coordinator Athena Huckaby about medication assisted treatment for addiction in this preview of "In Focus" airing on Newsmakers Thursday night on television.

An annual report published by addiction treatment provider Ideal Option found substance use involving two or more illicit drugs has remained prevalent in Washington, making treatment for patients far more complex.

Ideal Option treated about 13,700 patients in Washington last year. Its two outpatient clinics in Vancouver treat an average of 60 patients a day.

The opioid crisis is one of the top public safety concerns for not only the state, but the nation and according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Fentanyl seizures in Montana have already surpassed 40,000 pills in 2024.

While these numbers may seem startling, there are multiple organizations working to decrease the number of dangerous drugs in the state.

According to Ideal Option, a treatment center specializing in addiction, saw an overall 98 percent decrease in fentanyl use from patients while remaining in care.

Ideal Option, a provider of outpatient treatment for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, has opened a new clinic and office for its LEAD Seattle program at the Fifth Avenue Professional Center building in Northgate.

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Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for addiction to opioids and other substances, has released its 2023 Annual Patient Outcomes Report for patients living in Oregon.

This report contains an aggregated view of patients’ geographic and demographic characteristics, their stage and duration of care, adherence to medication and their substance use over time based on lab specimens collected during 2023 from over 2,800 patients.

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Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for addiction to opioids and other substances, has released its 2023 Annual Patient Outcomes Report for patients living in Oregon.

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Ideal Option is an addiction medication out-patient clinic, using lab data from over 2,000 patients, they released their 2023 annual report that shows effective treatment within patients that have abused fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The report lists unemployment and incarceration as major risk factors for addiction but for those who need help treatment is available.

"We've seen the changes rapidly, we're able to stay in front of the changes and be able to indicate medications safely and effectively, " Ideal Option Provider Benjamin Rae said.

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There is a national opioid and drug epidemic greatly impacting Alaskans, but there are effective treatment options available in the state.

The Alaska Division of Public Health revealed there was a 38% increase in overdose deaths from 2022 to 2023 in the state.

Ideal Option, a treatment clinic with 6 locations in Alaska, treated nearly 1,500 patients for substance use disorder last year. Alaskans who stayed in treatment during 2023 showed; 98% less fentanyl use, 90% less methamphetamine use, 96% less heroin use and 90% less cocaine use.

They also revealed data which showed 69% of patients in the state were consuming more than one substance when they entered the clinic while 41% were ingesting three or more substances. Unfortunately, 40% of patients tested positive for substances they were not aware they had even taken.

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Ideal Option knows the addiction treatment industry is constantly in flux, making predictability and timely insights vital to success.

That’s why investing in lab services and advancing a value-based care contracting strategy is a top priority for the Kennewick, Washington-based outpatient addiction treatment provider, CEO Tim Kilgallon tells Addiction Treatment News.

“Companies like us can see the changes happening in real-time,” Kilgallon said. “The one thing we can predict is that there are going to be more changes. We are consistently seeing change. So we expect more.”

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King County’s largest outpatient addiction treatment center is now open in Renton.

Ideal Option has locations nationwide, but the newest facility in Renton can provide services for up to 75 patients per day. The lab can process 600 specimens per day and has the capacity to process around 2,000 per day in the future.

“We intentionally chose this location for its availability to the greater region. It provides us with a unique space that can be inclusive of our labs so that we can do all of our lab screening in house,” April Provost, the community outreach coordinator for Ideal Option in Western Washington, said.

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Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, partnered with local agencies to host an Open House & Recovery Resource Fair in Yakima. The fair was held at their new addiction medicine center located at 602 N 39th Ave, Ste. 200, Yakima.

Mayor Patricia Byers gave the opening address to kick off the event.

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A recovery resource fair to address the opioid epidemic in the Yakima area is set for April 5.

Ideal Option is hosting the resource fair from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at its new clinic located at 602 N 39th Ave, Ste. 200.

Yakima Mayor Patricia Byers will speak to open the resource fair and the community is invited to learn about local resources, meet the staff, tour the clinic and learn about treatment options, according to a press release on the event.

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A rollback of ballot Measure 110 in the legislature will mean harsher sentences on drug offenses in Oregon.

“There's not one jail manager that's not concerned about this," Captain Michael Shults said. "The individuals that are addicted to this type of drug aren't the ones that are common criminals. These people that come into our facilities have very serious chronic illnesses and conditions that come in.”

The potential for more convictions raises the stakes for jail staff in Deschutes County, who are leaning on community programs to lead people toward sobriety.

“We know sometimes accountability does help change behavior,” Shults said.

Shawnda Jennings, peer support outreach specialist with Ideal Option, went through the jail’s medicated assisted treatment (MAT) program herself and now engages with inmates to help them fight addiction.

“MAT is a huge part of my recovery. It's one of those things that are utilized and it saved my life,” she said. "A lot of people need to be pulled out of their situation. There is a lot of people dying right now and for myself, I needed that accountability.”

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Ideal Option has been helping people break free from their addictions in Great Falls for years and recently they were able to move to a bigger location at 617 10th Avenue South.

“We’re not going to judge you,” Dawn Underwood, a nurse practitioner at Ideal Option said, “If you walk through the door, this is an open space, non-judgmental, we’re just here to help.”

This is a key motto for Ideal Option, a national addiction center that recently moved to its new location. Ideal Option uses the drug buprenorphine to help treat substance abuse disorders.

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Deschutes County is combatting the fentanyl crisis by raising awareness in local schools.

On Thursday, an entourage of people and a drug-sniffing dog who work on the front lines of the drug problem visited Cascades Academy in Tumalo.

The highlight of the presentation was a visit by K9 Bonny, a drug-sniffing springer spaniel who never stops moving until she finds a filter with an odor of fentanyl in a bookcase, not the actual drug itself.

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Deschutes County declared a state of emergency Wednesday due to the sharp increase in fentanyl overdoses. As the issue causes more tragic outcomes and draws a brighter spotlight, we took a look at the impacts local treatment centers face.

"Being able to give back -- there's so many people that don't get the opportunity to get recovery, and right now it is a life-and-death situation," Shawnda Jennings, Ideal Option's peer support outreach specialist, said Wednesday.

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Josh Morrison meets five to 10 patients daily to help them recover from drug and alcohol addiction. He would like to help more — 30 to 50 patients.

But not enough people know about Ideal Option’s new medication-assisted treatment clinic in Monroe, where Morrison is the onsite provider. The clinic at 101 East Main St. opened in November, three years after the company shuttered another clinic in Monroe’s industrial district due to the pandemic and the clinic’s inaccessible location.

The new downtown clinic is more convenient for Monroe residents, said April Provost, the outreach coordinator for Ideal Option. And it’s on a bus line to provide better access for those outside Monroe who may not have a treatment clinic nearby.

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April Provost has seen many people recover from opioid addiction. She also knows too many who have died.

Provost, of Everett, has been in recovery for five years. She’s now an outreach coordinator for Ideal Option, a network of medication-assisted treatment clinics.

Provost has seen an already serious problem worsen due to fentanyl. At least 297 people died from overdoses last year in Snohomish County, a 4.2% increase from 2022. The data is incomplete, as the county medical examiner’s office is awaiting more toxicology reports from November and December. May was the deadliest month, with 40 overdoses.

“Barely a week passes and we hear about someone we know who ODs,” she said. “It’s haunting.”

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The resource fair, featuring 10+ recovery support agencies, will be held at the new Ideal Option addiction treatment center in Spokane on Friday, January 12, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

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There were 459 Marion County Jail inmates who started opioid use disorder treatment while in custody this year under a program administered by an outpatient clinic provider.

Employees of the clinic provider, Ideal Option, help inmates get medication-assisted treatment through funding from Ballot Measure 110, Oregon’s Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act.

Medication-assisted treatment is available to anyone who is opioid dependent and tests positive after a drug test. Potential new patients are seen on Mondays and Wednesdays to determine whether the program would be a good fit.

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Ideal Option, a Kennewick-based addiction treatment provider, has consolidated its two Yakima clinics into one large addiction center that can serve almost twice as many people.

The center, which opened on Dec. 4 and is at 602 N. 39th Ave., has the capacity to see up to 75 patients daily, making it the largest clinic of its kind in the city. The clinic offers treatment for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and other substances.

Ashley Anderson, a peer outreach specialist for Ideal Option, spends most of her time in Yakima and the Tri-Cities working to connect incarcerated individuals, people experiencing homelessness and others with Ideal Option’s services. She said the new Yakima center’s expanded staff and capacity is already being put to use.

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The Paragould Regional Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for Ideal Option on Nov. 29. Ideal Option is dedicated to supporting the community by guiding individuals on their journey to recovery from addiction, providing a comprehensive approach that includes medication, behavioral health services, and valuable community partnerships. Ideal Option is located at 2711 West Kingshighway, Ste. 10, in Paragould and can be contacted at 877-522-1275.

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Nearly 100 people died of an overdose in Yakima County last year and those continuing to struggle with substance use are often left with limited treatment options or long waitlists for programs they desperately need.

But with the new changes happening at the outpatient treatment center Ideal Option in Yakima, staff believe they'll be able to make a bigger difference in the community when it comes to supporting people through their journey to recovery.

"We are opening this new clinic after reconsolidation and relocation just to broaden our ability to serve more patients," said Ashley Anderson, a peer outreach specialist at Ideal Option.

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Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Dec. 4 that he is proposing the addition of $50 million to the statewide budget to deal with the fentanyl crisis harming Washington state’s communities. Some of this funding would come from a recent settlement for $82 million with drug manufacturers and companies for their role in the nationwide opioid crisis.

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is driving a spike in overdose deaths and complicating drug treatment.

The budget for combating fentanyl and opioid use in general takes a multi-pronged approach, including education and awareness, community health hubs, harm reduction and treatment access and recovery services.

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Baltimore has the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the country.

That's according to a nationwide tracker of drug overdoses released by the San Francisco Chronicle.

To combat the problem, a new clinic just opened in the Park Heights neighborhood.

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The Lane County Board of County Commissioners voted to make Measure 110 reform a top priority ahead of the next state legislative session.

The motion was passed unanimously at the board’s December 5 meeting. As opposed to repealing the measure, commissioners want to reform it to get back to what it was supposed to do in the first place.

"When the voters passed Measure 110 they really had a specific issue in mind, broadly speaking,” Board of Commissioners chair Pat Farr said. “That was treatment for people who are in crisis. And the way we look at it at the county is that we are looking to add ways to treat people who are in crisis."

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A new out-patient substance abuse clinic opened their doors today in Yakima.

"We're here to save lives," said Tyler Vermillion, Ideal Option community outreach coordinator for Eastern Washington.

Ideal Option is a national leader in evidence-based outpatient treatment for substance addiction.

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Ideal Option has opened a new addiction medicine center in Yakima.

Ideal Option provides evidence-based outpatient treatment for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance and the new center will merge the two existing clinics into one location at 602 N 39th Ave.

“Yakima has been hit particularly hard by the street drug epidemic, so a high-capacity centralized, low-barrier resource like this is desperately needed," said Tyler Vermillion, Ideal Option community outreach coordinator for Eastern Washington.

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A new addiction treatment facility is open in Spokane thanks to Ideal Option. This will help those experiencing addiction to alcohol and opioids including fentanyl. They have a capacity to hold up to 100 patients a day.

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A gap in addiction services for the Sky Valley now is sealed. A company called Ideal Option had its quiet first week in a business center at Lewis and Main streets.

The company focuses on reversing chemical dependency through medicine, counseling and monitoring.
The clinic gives prescriptions to take to a pharmacy. It doesn't administer medication in-house, and isn't a drug injection site.

Ideal Option offers suboxone as well as being able to offer Vivitrol and Sublocade injections later in the recovery process.

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A new clinic in Fayetteville attempts to help people end their drug addictions.

Ideal Option, a Washington-based addiction treatment center is now welcoming new patients at its location on N East Avenue.

The center uses medication-assisted treatment for addiction to drugs like fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine.

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“Someone can walk in here with nothing and leave with a phone, go to Orion for a job, get an ORCA card, sign up for MAT with me, clothes over there,” said Brittany Ludington, Peer Outreach Specialist for Ideal Option.

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In 2011, prescription pain pills were distributed at a higher rate than ever before. Working-class individuals were getting hooked on pills, eventually leading to a rise in deadlier, more easily available street drugs. Now, along with the U.S., Oregon is seeing unprecedented numbers of fentanyl use, a highly addictive synthetic opioid.

Diana Everly with Ideal Option, a low-barrier treatment facility in Bend, saw people who were using prescription drugs in Oregon switch to heroin. However, she said, they aren't seeing as much heroin anymore. "We're primarily seeing fentanyl. It was always fentanyl pills, but here, in the past six to eight months I've been seeing more people on fentanyl powder, which is a more pure form of the drug, more deadly," she said.

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Cassi Beck has been sober for one year from fentanyl and methamphetamine. After getting into some trouble with the law, she was offered either a three-year sentence or the opportunity to go to an in-patient addiction treatment facility. She chose the latter.

“[Sobriety] changed my life really drastically, like in a good way. When I was using I was homeless, I had no friends and I was jumping from couch to couch. I was in a lot of serious situations and got in trouble with the law a lot and now that I’m sober, I have my car, I have an apartment, I have a full-time job. I have my parents’ trust back. I feel so much better now being sober. I never thought I would see myself sober until I started getting sober,” Beck said.

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Oregon Senate Republicans are pushing to refer Measure 110 back to voters, calling on what they term "buyer’s remorse" related to the measure to garner support.

Oregon voters passed Measure 110 in 2020. It decriminalized personal non-commercial drug possession offenses wit, and it received 58.5% of the vote. The idea was to help users get off the street, stay out of jail, and be put into treatment centers.

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An outpatient addiction treatment clinic recently relocated in Minot this year. Your News Leader explores how they treat people on their road to recovery.

Cassie Beck said she’s been clean for a year. She went to rehab for a fentanyl and methamphetamine drug use disorder last year. Now, she’s getting medication-assisted treatment once a month at Ideal Option.

“It’s going really well. I never thought I would come this far or achieve all my goals from being sober,” said Beck.

Ideal Option doesn’t only serve people in the maintenance stage of their treatment. Missy Tillman, community outreach coordinator, said they serve patients without judgment.

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With a nine percent increase in overdose-related deaths over the past year, North Dakota is seeing a major uptick in substance abuse. However, the Peace Garden State is also taking many different measures to tackle this problem — and one local business is also doing its part to combat the issue in our communities.

Ideal Option was founded eleven years ago, by emergency medical providers who were seeing an influx of opiate use disorder in the E.R. They now have a location on Divide Avenue in Bismarck, where they use patient-specific, evidence-based treatment to aid people struggling with substance abuse disorders.

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Amid a spike in Spokane drug overdoses in recent years, the Spokane Regional Health District spent Thursday afternoon distributing Narcan in a park and teaching members of the public to administer it properly.

Part of International Opioid Awareness Day, the SRHD was one of a dozen organizations at Mission Park providing public education on drug overdoses and how they can be treated or prevented. The event was organized by Ideal Option, an outpatient treatment facility using medications to treat drug addiction.

“We need to bring awareness to this epidemic we’re facing and bring prevention. We want people to know anyone can be affected by overdose and you need to be prepared,” said event organizer Carlo Menjivar – pointing to the need for average people to be aware of the signs of overdose and be comfortable with administering Narcan if it would save someone’s life.

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In a three-year period from 2019 to 2021, Snohomish, Yakima and Spokane counties saw a higher level of overdose death rates than the state average, according to federal statistics.

Now state leaders are asking for federal assistance in the North Sound and two other cities in Washington to help address the fentanyl and drug crisis.

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Governor Tina Kotek on Monday signed several bills including one that centers on fentanyl distribution. With the signing of House Bill 2645, the state is making a push towards increased drug enforcement.

State representative Lisa Reynolds said that because of the state taking a more humane approach to fighting drug users, fellow representatives took to charging the drug distributors at the source.

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Ideal Option, an outpatient treatment for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is now welcoming new patients in Paragould. The newly established low-barrier clinic, located at 2711 West Kingshighway, Ste. 10, is offering primarily buprenorphine-based treatment to help individuals reclaim their lives.

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In the fight against fentanyl abuse in Washington, almost every official agrees addiction treatment must be part of the solution. However, there is a divide on where treatment should happen.

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Fentanyl is cheap and easy to get in the Tri-Cities, but access to a life-saving drug Narcan to reverse overdoses is expensive and first responders don’t know where they’re going to get their next doses.

Those are two of the biggest challenges the Tri-Cities faces in its fight against fentanyl, experts said at a roundtable this week.

Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., joined medical experts, law enforcement and community members for Monday’s discussion at the Benton Franklin Health District on the Tri-Cities fentanyl crisis.

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Senator Maria Cantwell is meeting with health and law enforcement leaders to talk about drug overdoses.

Leaders with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say Washington has experienced the single-highest increase of reported drug overdoses between February of 2022 and 2023.

That's an increase of over 21% in just one year.

Health leaders say, already, there have been almost two dozen fatal overdoses in the Tri-Cities this year.

Ideal Option is a local voluntary treatment center with over 30 locations nationwide, which got its start right here in the Tri-Cities. Its leaders say local partnerships with hospitals, law enforcement, and community resources are essential to the solution.

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The rampant rise in fentanyl abuse in Pierce County is being met by a new treatment resource. 

On Monday, Ideal Option opened its new clinic in downtown Tacoma to provide access to low-barrier treatment for fentanyl, methamphetamine, alcohol and other substances.

The new clinic, located at 1702 Tacoma Ave South, is Ideal Option’s third location in Pierce County. The outpatient facility offers medication-assisted treatment for those struggling with addiction.

"Treatment is readily available. We understand that timing is very, very important when somebody is ready for help. They need it now," said Rebekah Cantrell, Ideal Option’s peer outreach specialist.

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Deaths by drug overdose in Montana continue to rise. 

Nearly 200 people in Montana died due to drug overdoses in 2021, the last year that comprehensive data is available, according to the state’s health department. That’s nearly 40 more lives lost than in 2020 and 80 more than in 2017. 

Yellowstone County, the state’s most populous, had the highest number of fatal overdoses, followed by Missoula County. 

Neither autopsies nor toxicological testing are performed on every person who dies from an overdose, according to Jon Ebelt, a spokesperson from the Montana Department Public Health and Human Services, so even those numbers could be an undercount.     

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New data demonstrates that fentanyl has complicated addiction treatment in the U.S. by increasing the prevalence of polysubstance use in patients seeking treatment.

The data — from the Kennewick, Washington-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) provider Ideal Option — show that as many as 61% may need treatment for at least two different substances. 

“Polysubstance use disorder is now the most common diagnosis at Ideal Option,” Tim Kilgallon, CEO at Ideal Option, said in a news release. “In 2022, over half of all patients tested positive for two or more substances at enrollment, and 27% tested positive for three or more substances.”

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A drug treatment center, Ideal Option, with facilities across the country, recently opened a new clinic in Van Buren, located at 2521 Alma Hwy.

According to the press release, the new clinic will provide buprenorphine-based medication-assisted treatment. Additionally, Crawford County residents can now access in-person medication-assisted treatment for fentanyl, meth, heroin, alcohol, and other substances.

According to the Arkansas Take Back Opioid Dashboard, overdose deaths in Crawford County increased by over 250% from 2019 to 2020 and remained consistent from 2020 to 2021. In addition, narcotic arrests increased by 13% from 2020 to 2021.

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A Baltimore man is sharing his journey of overcoming opioid addiction. His story comes as new numbers through a Maryland clinic send a promising message about medication-assisted treatment.

"It only lasted six months, and it totally destroyed me," recovering fentanyl addict Roy Littleton said.

Littleton’s addiction began with alcohol.

"Then I started doing the drugs, the marijuana, the coke, and it progressed finally into opioids,” Littleton said.

His last time taking fentanyl was at 18 caps in 24 hours. Surviving that led him to treatment. It took a few tries and a relapse before entering Ideal Option in Rosedale. Ideal Option specializes in medication-assisted treatment – helping more than 900 people across the state.

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In Arkansas, overdose deaths have increased every year since 2018, according to the Arkansas Take Back Opioid Dashboard.

National medical group Ideal Option is hoping to address the increase, the opioid epidemic and substance abuse issues through several new clinics.

"The need has really always been there," Lt. Cody Burk, a spokesperson with the Pulaski County sheriff's office, said.

Services offered through Ideal Option's 10 Arkansas clinics aim to give those in need a "reboot" to life.

"While opioid prescribing and heroin use is on the decrease, overdose deaths continue to increase in Arkansas, largely due to the prevalence of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply," a press release from the group said.

Aaron Bunch, community outreach coordinator for Ideal, shared how the clinics are using resources and medicated treatments to help people get back on their feet.

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An opioid addiction treatment could help make fighting the battle easier.

Buprenorphine also known as Suboxone is a medication that helps someone get off of opioids like fentanyl, heroin, or pain pills. The drug triggers a signal in the brain to deter the use of opioids.

“It focuses on receptors in the brain that opioids are attracted to. Suboxone occupies these receptors and in return then helps with cravings, withdrawals, and some against overdose,” said Jaclyn Kassen, a family nurse practitioner at Ideal Option, which is an addiction treatment center.

Suboxone also adds a sealing effect, which prevents users from getting a euphoric feeling if an opioid is taken while on the treatment.

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A mobile clinic is bringing drug treatment to rural Idaho.

The organization Ideal Option's first treatment clinic on wheels is in Rexburg. Ideal Option received a grant from the state to create the roving facility.

Kim Hill is the community outreach manager with the organization.

"It's really geared at allowing people in those rural communities to access treatment who otherwise would not be able to have those services available to them," said Hill. "Transportation is a huge barrier with the clientele that we serve."

Ideal Option offers medication-based addiction treatment for opioids, alcohol and other substances.

They have more than 80 standalone clinics in eleven states, including ten in Idaho. The clinics are largely in rural towns, such as Idaho Falls, Lewiston and Sandpoint.

Hill said opioid use disorder treatment comes in five stages, and if patients make at least three visits, more than 80% stay in treatment long term. She added that treatment also reduces encounters with law enforcement.

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Ideal Option, a national leader in evidence-based outpatient treatment for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is now welcoming new patients in El Dorado.

While opioid prescribing and heroin use are on the decline, overdose deaths continue to increase in Arkansas, largely due to the prevalence of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply.

“We continue to see a concerning rise in fentanyl use across Arkansas, creating an urgent demand for specialized treatment,” said Aaron Bunch, community outreach coordinator for Ideal Option. “I am excited to get to work in the great community of El Dorado to tackle this worsening crisis.”

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Ideal Option, a company that provides outpatient treatment for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is welcoming new patients in El Dorado.

The clinic at 625 E. Main St., will provide primarily buprenorphine-based medication-assisted treatment with an onsite addiction medicine specialist.

While opioid prescribing and heroin use is on the decline, overdose deaths continue to increase in Arkansas, largely due to the prevalence of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply.

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Representative Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) visited the Ideal Option treatment center in Kennewick on January 23 in an effort to understand what resources are available in the area. 

Ideal Option reports it has helped over 65,000 patients across 80 office-based medication treatments locations in 11 states. The treatment is reportedly enabled through extensive toxicology, according to Ideal Option. 

Newhouse visited the center to discuss the available treatments for opioid addiction and understand how they work. Ideal Option uses measurement-based treatment and lab results to measure outcomes. Its Kennewick location treats for opioid addictions including fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone and stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, plus assisted treatment for alcohol withdrawal and relapse prevention. 

“To have resources like this available to people here in Central Washington, that’s a good thing,” said Rep. Newhouse. “It really is. To get ourselves out of this situation that we find ourselves in, it’s going to take a lot of different things. But this is a key part of it: to get people the help that they need.”

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Hillsboro NewsTimes talked to Ideal Option's addiction medicine provider, Daniel Goulette, PA-C, to discuss ways to manage stress, family dynamics, and the impacts of COVID-19 for those in recovery during the holiday season.

"Journaling is really powerful," Goulette said. "It can help process anxiety and work through some of the complex emotions surrounding that particular cue or trigger. I also recommend reaching out to recovery support. Sometimes in periods of struggle, the instinct is to kind of fold in on yourself, but it's important to reach out to those who support your recovery. That can be a sponsor or a counselor."

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KATU 2 ABC News interviewed Ideal Option patient Jaelyn Phillips and addiction medicine provider Lindsey Huckett on ways to navigate the holiday season while in recovery from substance use disorder. 

“We always see relapses during the holidays, but it’s much worse because of isolation and the rules and regulations that we need to follow to stay safe," Ideal Option's addiction medicine provider, Lindsey Huckett, ARNP, FNP-C told KATU News.

Every weekday morning, the camera goes live, and Geoff Godfrey is ready to greet a crowd of people. The viewers are at various places on the path to exiting opioid addiction. It’s a video visit through Facebook called “Recovery Gone Viral.” The core audience is people in programs run by the medical group Ideal Option. Godfrey is one of its addiction professionals. By all accounts, going online is working far beyond what the team dreamed. It’s made isolating at home feel less lonely. Read More

When opening clinics to serve communities, it’s essential to partner with organizations already doing the work in those communities. In this interview with KSJE 90.9FM in Farmington, New Mexico, Amanda Evans with the San Juan County Partnership discusses how Ideal Option reached out to their Opioid Misuse and Prevention meeting for collaboration. Soon to open in Farmington, Ideal Option plans to partner with San Juan County Partnership and other organizations to facilitate warm handoff referrals and help those struggling with opiate use disorder in the Four Corners region. Watch More

Individuals struggling with opioid addiction in Idaho have new resources for assistance. Ideal Option, a company specializing in the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder, announced the opening of two new outpatient clinics in Boise and Pocatello as well as the launch of a virtual clinic on April 14. Read More

Social isolation, increased anxiety and struggles with substance abuse may be another rising epidemic in our neighborhoods. Dr. Richard Mattis, at the substance use disorder clinic 'Ideal option,' tells us the underlying issues."Can't get them to see their doctor because their doctor's office isn't open. You know lost their job. Can't get refills on medications. So COVID-19 has created kind of a train wreck nightmare across the nation, for a lot of our patients." Watch More

While the best thing for many people is to stay inside and limit contact with other people, for those recovering from a substance use disorder, those conditions can lead to a relapse. At Ideal Option, an addiction treatment center, sessions are now being done through a computer screen. Addiction medicine provider Sheri Bagley says she's seen some of her patients start to spiral in the wake of COVID. Watch More

Ideal Option, a national leader in evidence-based treatment for addiction to opioids, alcohol and other substances, has launched a “Virtual Clinic” for new and existing patients to get addiction treatment via video chat from home or a location of their choice. Read More

What started as a small clinic grew into a veritable campus and epicenter for a national chain of treatment clinics that currently serve thousands of patients. Dr. Jeff Allgaier and Dr. Ken Egli opened the first Ideal Option in Kennewick in 2012 after recognizing the overwhelming need for long-term treatment options for patients with substance addictions. Now with 65 clinics in 8 states, demand continues to grow. Read More

A new choice to get help has opened up in Salem as more options emerge to give those struggling with opioid addiction a way out of the vicious cycle. Staff at Ideal Option said people who need help can come in and be seen as soon as possible. This help is desperately needed, as statistics show that Oregon has the fourth-highest addiction rate of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Yet, Oregon ranks 50th in access to treatment. Read More

In Benton and Snohomish counties, comprehensive Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs are helping every opiate-using inmate entering their jails. The programs are deployed in partnership with Washington state-based treatment provider Ideal Option. Looking at this model with an eye toward King County, several opportunities emerge at little cost to the taxpayer, whether at the King County Correctional Facility downtown, its West Wing Shelter or the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. Read More

Benton County Jail has implemented a medication-assisted treatment program for inmates addicted to opioids. Partnering with Ideal Option, the program includes Ideal Option doctors and medical staff inside the jail. They counsel inmates, as well as prescribe, and learn about the issues they face. Once inmates are released from jail, they continue treatment at Ideal Option. Read More

“By the grace of God, Ideal Option opened in Bismarck February 21st of 2018, and I was their very first patient at 8:30 in the morning…and the doctors were amazing. They treated me like a human being,” said Ideal Option Patient Pamela Emmil.  Read More

It's been eight months since the Benton County Jail started a program to help inmates overcome their opioid addiction, and experts say they're impressed. Despite recent changes in leadership, the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program helping inmates get off opioids and into treatment while behind bars will continue. Read More

People recovering from addiction — regardless of drug-use history — said getting clean has become easier with various treatments now available in Walla Walla. One such treatment option is Kennewick-based Ideal Option. Read More

The new Ideal Option clinic in College Park focuses on providing medication that — when used correctly — can limit a patient’s opiate withdrawal symptoms and cravings and lessen the effects of opioid molecules in the brain. Read More

Jails have two major barriers to offering the treatment. They don’t have enough prescribing doctors. To fill that gap, the jail has partnered with Ideal Option, a treatment provider that works with participants inside and outside the jail. Read More

The Frederick police chief and several other public officials applauded the newest avenue for people struggling with substance abuse to get help during the opening of a substance abuse treatment clinic in the city Thursday. Read More

Ideal Option's Everett treatment center, fitted with a medical lab and a behavioral health unit, will treat nearly 150 addicts per day. Ideal Option said they currently have 5,757 active patients, with 1,053 patients in Snohomish County. Read More

People fighting addiction and those helping them told Q13 News that the ruling out of Oklahoma is encouraging. Q13 News sat down with Sherie Hurst White, who comes into Ideal Option every 3 weeks now to hold herself accountable. Read More

During one week in July, 27 people overdosed on opioids in Snohomish County. Two died. The statistical snapshot, released for the third straight year, shows how the local chemical dependency crisis continues to morph. Read More

Vancouver officials and representatives of a regional health nonprofit gathered in the city’s downtown to celebrate the opening of a new medication-assisted treatment clinic, highlighting efforts to provide options for those in Clark County looking to beat their addiction. Read More

The new downtown clinic is perfectly placed. Access to treatment is one of the biggest hurdles for an addict. Ideal Option will also be able to serve the houseless population, who often lack transportation. They also work to connect addicts in treatment to housing and job training services. Read More

Kennewick-based Ideal Option has been providing services in Walla Walla since 2017. The Main Street spot is part of its network of nearly 65 office-based opioid treatment clinics across eight states. Read More

Ideal Option's new clinic in Aberdeen is the first ever to offer patient-friendly evening hours. The clinic has no wait lists and accepts all forms of insurance, including Medicaid. No member of the Grays Harbor community who needs treatment for addiction will be turned away. Read More

The numbers behind America’s opioid crisis are daunting, with addiction destroying millions of lives in the last decade alone. An experimental program happening in the Tri-Cities is making waves nationally, turning the tide, and saving lives with the help of Ideal Option. Read More

In February, Kennewick-based Ideal Option started providing a medication-assisted treatment program in the jail, which combines medicine to curb withdrawal symptoms along with counseling. Read More

Ideal Option in Pasco, Kadlec Regional Medical Center and the Benton and Franklin County Sheriff's office received the money from the Washington Health Care Authority. Read More

A clinic in Bellingham is using an approach to treat opioid addiction in a way that’s showing very promising results. It’s called medication-assisted treatment, and it’s being used at Ideal Option Clinic, which Whatcom county officials consider as part of their fight against addiction. Read More

Just after the second anniversary of its launch, the Island County Opioid Outreach program boasts one of the best rates of getting people into treatment in the region. Read More

In January, the jail Snohomish County Jail launched one of the first programs in the state to offer detainees access to medication to ease withdrawals. It was one of five recently highlighted in a National Sheriffs’ Association report on jail-based medication-assisted treatment, also known as MAT. Read More