EUGENE, Ore. (PRWEB)
January 10, 2022
Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, will host an open house at their clinic in Eugene on Friday, January 21st.
After almost two years of quietly seeing over 200 patients during the pandemic, Ideal Option invites community members to drop by to learn more about addiction medicine, meet their staff and discuss ways to tackle the worsening opioid crisis in Lane County.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, substance use and overdose deaths have skyrocketed exponentially across the nation, and Oregon is no exception. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, there were 549 drug overdose deaths due to opioids reported in OR during the 12-month period ending in March 2021, a 59% increase from the 345 deaths reported during the same period the year before.
The most dangerous opioid is fentanyl, a plentiful, inexpensive synthetic drug 50 times more potent than heroin. Many illicit substances such as heroin, pain pills, and even marijuana are now commonly laced with fentanyl, often without the knowledge of the user.
“A little bit of fentanyl – we’re talking about just grams of salt-sized (fentanyl) – is actually enough to be fatal,” stated Alex Speldrich, a patrol sergeant with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, in a recent article. According to the Eugene Police Department, 441 overdose calls were logged in 2020 and in 2021, 407 calls had already been logged by October.
Ideal Option’s own lab testing data, collected from patients across its five clinics in Oregon, show in May 2021, 55% of patients tested positive for fentanyl at enrollment, a 157% increase compared to January 2021.
On Friday, January 21, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., all members of the community are invited to drop by the Ideal Option clinic in Eugene located at 1201 Oak Street.
During the open house, attendees can enjoy refreshments, learn more about Ideal Option and their specialized protocols for treating fentanyl use, pick up materials, and meet their staff.
For questions about this event, email Senior Marketing Manager Olivia Easly at oliviaeasly@idealoption.net.
About Ideal Option
Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped nearly 50,000 patients through a network of over 70 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 10 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts all forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.
Ideal Option’s team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.
In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.
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