KELSO, Wash. (KOIN) — Cowlitz County leads Washington state in opioid deaths and state leaders want to use methadone as treatment.
Methadone works by changing how the brain and nervous system response to pain and it decreases the painful symptoms of opiate withdrawal. Right now, the nearest methadone clinic is in Clark County.
A proposed methadone clinic, Kelso Treatment Solutions, would focus on helping people who are dependent on opioids like heroin and oxycontin. The facility would also offer therapy treatment and provide medical oversight.
Lisa Alexander has been protesting the clinic since it was proposed. She questions whether methadone would really end someone’s opioid addiction.
“They need inpatient treatment centers, they need people to be able to function in society and I don’t believe trading one addiction for another is a way to do that for them,” Alexander said.
Timothy and Jennifer, who just moved to Kelso, are in favor or the clinic.
“There’s certain people that get a to certain age that have been addicted to the drug for many years who can not live without a small dosage,” Timothy said.