Road to recovery on drug treatment truck

The day after Christmas, a large white truck bearing the initials ETS pulled up next to the Community Lifeline homeless shelter in downtown Shelton.

Ever since, residents with homes or without have been treated for opioid use disorders inside the truck six mornings a week.

The nonprofit Evergreen Treatment Services, funded by a grant from the Health Care Authority, states that it "aims to minimize barriers to accessing substance use treatment by meeting patients where they are."

Established in 1973, Evergreen Treatment Services has clinics in Seattle, Renton and Olympia. About 200 to 250 of the nonprofit's patients live in Mason County, so "we saw it was a good place to set up," said Matt Rosales, the clinic manager in Olympia.

Research "showed Mason County has a high overdose rate and no service like we provide up there," he said.

The truck is open from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. every day except Sunday. The trucks are staffed by nurses, counselors, medical providers and assistants, care managers, technicians and community safety specialists.

Services include assessment and treatment planning; distribution of methadone and Subuxon; individual and group counseling; drug screening; HIV and hepatitis C education, testing and counseling; and physical examinations.

According to the agency, methadone and Subuxon suppresses symptoms of opioid withdrawal for at least 24 hours, reduces cravings for opioids and lowers the risk of a fatal overdose.

As for the downtown Shelton clientele, "It's a mix: young people, older people, people from all walks of life," Rosales said.

The agency believes such a service is needed in the Belfair area, but needs another vehicle to do it, Rosales said.

Rosales said the presence of the truck and medical workers downtown has been "well accepted," including from the Mason County Sheriff's Office across the street.

To learn more about the services, email [email protected]