Multnomah County Opens 24/7 Sobering Center Expands Referral Access

Multnomah County has expanded its 24/7 sobering center services at the temporary Coordinated Care Pathway Center in Portland, opening up referrals to five community organizations beyond law enforcement, including Portland Street Response and 4D Recovery. Since April, the center, which has 13 sobering beds, has helped 26 people, primarily men aged 26 to 45 seeking help for fentanyl and methamphetamine use. Officials acknowledge that referral numbers initially were low but expect these to grow as awareness and understanding of the services increase. The county is actively working on a permanent sobering and deflection center at 1901 SE Grand Avenue, with construction planned to start in 2026 and the facility expected to open in 2027. The new center will offer expanded services, including deflection, sobering, and withdrawal management, aiming to provide comprehensive addiction and mental health support. County leaders emphasize the importance of maximizing access to these recovery resources to address the significant community need.