EDMONDS — A 44-bed inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center opened in Edmonds on Monday.
The new site is Northpoint Recovery’s second location in Washington, joining an outpatient facility that began operating in Bellevue two and a half years ago.
The health care company also runs three addiction treatment centers in Idaho.
The site in Edmonds is twice as large as Northpoint’s other inpatient drug and alcohol rehab program in Boise.
“We decided to open in Edmonds because about 20 percent of our patients in Idaho were coming from the north Seattle area,” said Logan Stroud, vice president of Northpoint Washington.
Now people don’t have to leave their community to seek help, Stroud added.
He expects demand to be high for the new spaces in Edmonds. In its first two days, the clinic admitted five people each day. Several others are scheduled to begin treatment later in the week.
“It’s filling up fast, we know there is a need for more beds,” Stroud said.
The inpatient center in Boise is usually full and has a two-week wait list, Stroud said.
People seeking inpatient treatment for substance use disorders often have to travel out of Snohomish County, which can be a huge barrier to getting well, said Robin Fenn, superintendent of the Verdant Health Commission, in an email.
The commission funds health-related programs in south county.
“One of our priorities at the Verdant Health Commission is for people with health needs, including those related to behavioral health, to find the support and treatment they need in our community,” Fenn said. “The services provided by Northpoint Recovery allow for one more option for our community to address these issues.”
A recent Snohomish Health District report estimated that between 5 and 10 percent of residents in the county either are addicted to opioids or are misusing them.
The most common addiction treated at Northpoint is alcohol, affecting between 50 and 60 percent of its clients. Another 30 to 40 percent are dependent on opioids. And a small percentage are using cocaine or methamphetamines, Stroud said.
Inpatient treatment generally lasts 28 days at Northpoint and includes medical intervention, such as medication-assisted treatment, and counseling. When released, most clients continue care at an outpatient center, Stroud said.
“They’re definitely a top-notch organization that has a good reputation,” said Patrick Doherty, economic development director for the city of Edmonds.
The treatment center is in Edmonds, but will serve the region, he added.
Lizz Giordano: 425-374-4165; egiordano@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @lizzgior.
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