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The Newsfeed: Inside Seattle's opioid addiction treatment centers

Evergreen Treatment Services helps about 3,000 people a day, and works with the City of Seattle and law enforcement to connect people with care.

The Newsfeed: Inside Seattle's opioid addiction treatment centers

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Paris Jackson

Jaelynn Grisso

Shannen Ortale

by

Paris Jackson Jaelynn Grisso Shannen Ortale Dec 12, 2025

Dec 12, 2025

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                <h1>The Newsfeed: Inside Seattle's opioid addiction treatment centers</h1>
                <h2><p>Evergreen Treatment Services helps about 3,000 people a day, and works with the City of Seattle and law enforcement to connect people with care.</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/paris-jackson/">Paris Jackson</a></p>  <p>By <a href="/author/jaelynn-grisso/">Jaelynn Grisso</a></p>  <p>By <a href="/author/shannen-ortale/">Shannen Ortale</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Dec 12, 2025</time></p>
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<p>In November, we checked in on <a href="https://www.cascadepbs.org/the-newsfeed-2/2025/11/the-newsfeed-report-casts-doubt-on-seattle-drug-diversion-ordinance/" rel="noreferrer noopener"><u>increasing prosecutions in Seattle</u></a> following an ordinance criminalizing public drug use that passed in 2023. The stated goal of that ordinance is to offer drug users help instead of prosecution.&nbsp;</p><p>Cascade PBS took a closer look at the public health aspect of this issue by learning about the impact of drug treatment centers in Seattle. &nbsp;</p><p>Evergreen Treatment Services operates clinics and mobile units throughout the Puget Sound.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>They work closely with the City of Seattle and law enforcement to provide treatment to clients addicted to opioids.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Evergreen says on average, they serve 3,000 patients daily within their system.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>A client’s treatment can include medical intervention and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, but services aren’t limited to drug treatment.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Evergreen has a holistic approach where they determine a person’s other mental health and&nbsp; medical needs as well as options to help secure housing.&nbsp;</p><p>“Our treatment process is ... definitely not just around providing medications for opioid usage disorder, but we have counselors that are attempting to address behavioral issues that may come alongside the use. Case managers that may come who can really connect people to resources, housing being one of them,” said Sean Soth,&nbsp; Director of Health Integration and Innovation at Evergreen Treatment Services.&nbsp;</p><p>“Nearly 40% of the people that come into services with us are unhoused. That is a major impact on their life and their ability to really address other issues in their life. So for us finding ways to create stability in somebody’s living environment is a really vital piece to the work that we’re doing,” Soth said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“I think the biggest thing that folks should know about the population that walks through our doors is that they are resilient. The people that are receiving services are some of the most marginalized folks in our community and the resiliency of those folks to still find ways to survive, to meet their needs, and to ultimately show up and ask for help I think is a huge testament to the drive that people have a healthier and more well-rounded life.”&nbsp;</p>
          </article>

In November, we checked in on increasing prosecutions in Seattle following an ordinance criminalizing public drug use that passed in 2023. The stated goal of that ordinance is to offer drug users help instead of prosecution.

Cascade PBS took a closer look at the public health aspect of this issue by learning about the impact of drug treatment centers in Seattle.

Evergreen Treatment Services operates clinics and mobile units throughout the Puget Sound.

They work closely with the City of Seattle and law enforcement to provide treatment to clients addicted to opioids.

Evergreen says on average, they serve 3,000 patients daily within their system.

A client’s treatment can include medical intervention and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, but services aren’t limited to drug treatment.

Evergreen has a holistic approach where they determine a person’s other mental health and medical needs as well as options to help secure housing.

“Our treatment process is ... definitely not just around providing medications for opioid usage disorder, but we have counselors that are attempting to address behavioral issues that may come alongside the use. Case managers that may come who can really connect people to resources, housing being one of them,” said Sean Soth, Director of Health Integration and Innovation at Evergreen Treatment Services.

“Nearly 40% of the people that come into services with us are unhoused. That is a major impact on their life and their ability to really address other issues in their life. So for us finding ways to create stability in somebody’s living environment is a really vital piece to the work that we’re doing,” Soth said.

“I think the biggest thing that folks should know about the population that walks through our doors is that they are resilient. The people that are receiving services are some of the most marginalized folks in our community and the resiliency of those folks to still find ways to survive, to meet their needs, and to ultimately show up and ask for help I think is a huge testament to the drive that people have a healthier and more well-rounded life.”

Paris Jackson

By Paris Jackson

Paris Jackson is the host of The Newsfeed. She’s an Emmy Award-winning journalist who's spent more than 15 years in commercial television and public media.

Paris Jackson is the host of The Newsfeed. She’s an Emmy Award-winning journalist who's spent more than 15 years in commercial television and public media.

Jaelynn Grisso

By Jaelynn Grisso

Jaelynn Grisso is Cascade PBS’s investigative multimedia journalist. Prior to Cascade PBS, Grisso founded a nonprofit news outlet and worked for Mother Jones, Honolulu Civil Beat and Scripps.

Jaelynn Grisso is Cascade PBS’s investigative multimedia journalist. Prior to Cascade PBS, Grisso founded a nonprofit news outlet and worked for Mother Jones, Honolulu Civil Beat and Scripps.

Shannen Ortale

By Shannen Ortale

Shannen Ortale is a producer at Cascade PBS. She formerly worked as a freelancer & film festival programmer. She also served as a producer & educator for community media & public television in Boston.

Shannen Ortale is a producer at Cascade PBS. She formerly worked as a freelancer & film festival programmer. She also served as a producer & educator for community media & public television in Boston.