Why are Portland's drug treatment beds sitting empty? | The Story | March 31, 2025

March 31 on The Story: Not long ago, getting into inpatient addiction treatment in Portland meant getting in line outside the door early in the morning, with no guarantee of getting a bed. Now, treatment beds regularly sit empty at withdrawal management facilities like Fora Health in Southeast Portland. The recent drop-off in people seeking treatment has providers puzzled, but they have some ideas about contributing factors — namely the lack of longer-term residential treatment and supportive housing resources for people to access after detox. Without those, people struggling with substance abuse are ending up right back where they started before they went to treatment. Watch more The Story videos: http://bit.ly/watchTheStory Follow The Story on Twitter:   / thestorykgw   Follow The Story on Instagram:   / thestorykgw