Southeast Oregon coffee shop will aim to combat opioid addiction

A nonprofit in Southeast Oregon is hoping to fight opioid dependancy one cup of espresso at a time.

In Could, the Oregon Well being Authority introduced it was awarding Symmetry Care Inc. a grant to fund drug remedy providers in Harney County. The grant is a part of the preliminary rollout of funds from Measure 110, the 2020 poll measure that voters accredited to decriminalize medication whereas allocating extra money for dependancy providers.

Cash for Measure 110 dependancy providers lastly arrives

Fairly than present conventional dependancy providers like counseling and training, Symmetry will use the $850,000 grant to arrange a espresso store. The nonprofit purchased a constructing for the challenge in Burns, a city of two,700 and the seat of Harney County.

Symmetry director Chris Siegner stated his group already offers extra conventional remedy providers, however the nonprofit hopes that working a café staffed with individuals in restoration from dependancy might go additional in serving to staff keep clear.

“I’m a licensed medical social employee, and I do remedy and see shoppers right here, however I do know that them having a job is usually far more essential than the remedy work that I present,” he stated. “And serving to them do that may be a large a part of their restoration.”

Espresso with a trigger

Jason Sanchez, Symmetry’s addictions and peer supervisor, stated he received the concept for a espresso store after trying on the grant necessities and contemplating the wants of his shoppers.

Sanchez stated Symmetry’s shoppers usually endure from low shallowness, and their prior selections make them really feel like they’ll’t develop into a productive member of society. In addition they lack the social assist they should keep their restoration, Sanchez stated.

Siegner stated the analysis backs Symmetry’s method and its clientele again this method, too. The nonprofit received constructive suggestions from shoppers after asking for his or her ideas on the proposal.

Symmetry expects the espresso store to not solely act as a supply of labor but additionally a useful resource hub for different remedy providers. Plus, the enterprise could have all the advantages of being a purposeful café.

“It’s going to be a spot the place our group can go and have a pleasant cup of espresso and perhaps a pastry or one thing,” Sanchez stated.

Siegner stated the espresso store will open throughout the subsequent 10 months to a 12 months, but it surely’s trying to make use of a couple of shoppers to assist out with the renovation challenge earlier than then.