Methadone clinic in Southeast Portland makes changes after concerns raised about drug use

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — This is a story that took a big turn in two weeks.

A month ago, Josie Grasseth had enough of a methadone clinic on the corner of Southeast 164th and Division. Methadone is used to treat opioid addiction and is designed to help people addicted to opioids such as heroin and fentanyl get off the drug.

Grasseth works and lives near the clinic. What she saw there disturbed her.

“People come to the methadone clinic next door and make drug deals that are not allowed on the premises. They nod off in the driver's seat with the keys in the car,” said Grasseth.

Other neighbors also voiced concerns. They were angry that the clinic did not have security in the parking lot to control the large crowds. They said they saw people smoking fentanyl all around them.

Grasseth was concerned about the safety of her four-year-old twins and was especially worried about what they might encounter in the yard, such as the very dangerous fentanyl.

But after KATU News spoke with hospital staff behind closed doors, they promised changes, including controlling the large crowds in the parking lot.

In fact, we found that the crowds outside the clinic had diminished considerably when we returned to the area for a second time last week.

Grasseth even turned to KATU and said things in the neighborhood have improved dramatically.

A lawyer for the clinic owner said in a statement that the clinic is regularly faced with allegations, almost all of which turn out to be false. The statement also said that “the clinics require their patients to leave the premises as soon as they have finished treatment. In particular, the staff discourages loitering of any kind and does not tolerate any criminal behavior in or near the clinic.”

But who regulates the ten or so methadone clinics in the Portland area?

That task falls to Dr. John McIlveen, the Oregon Health Authority's state opioid treatment authority.

He says it can be a challenge for clinics to control what is happening on the street.

“As I'm sure you know, our city is currently struggling with a lot of issues and challenges when it comes to drug use and homelessness. I think we can alleviate all of those issues. Methadone is actually part of that alleviation, especially for people who are really severely impacted by opioid use disorder. But of course, we want our clinics – and I do this personally and communicate this with new and existing clinics – to be a really good neighbor because they are an important social service network and treatment foundation for the community,” McIlveen said.

He also said that there is no higher crime rate in the area surrounding a methadone clinic compared to the surrounding neighborhood.

Neighbors like Grasseth hope for the best and that the problems around them will subside.

She has great compassion for people with mental illness and drug addiction, but has reached a point where her compassion is exhausted.

Now she hopes the neighborhood she loves so much will experience some healing.

“But yes, it has gotten much worse. I grew up in this neighborhood. I am 44 years old, this is my neighborhood, and it is no longer the same place,” Grasseth said.