Justin (staff member) briefed the Spokane County Behavioral Health Advisory Board on ongoing opioid‑settlement projects, including a crisis relief and sobering center, partnerships for a long‑term withdrawal management facility, and potential phase‑3 investments.

"The board approved up to $5,000,000 for the initial work on that project with opioid dollars," Justin said of a planned inpatient stabilization and 23‑hour crisis relief and sobering center that would share intake for walk‑ins, law‑enforcement referrals and community referrals. Justin said the center is intended to be a "no wrong door" approach that provides immediate care and, if appropriate, referrals to higher levels of care.

Justin also said the county and Commerce are partnering to purchase a building for a long‑term withdrawal management facility through STARS (Spokane Treatment and Recovery Services). The county contributed an additional $2,000,000 to other projects and has invested most settlement funds to date; Justin said administrative/legal review accounts for a substantial portion of costs tied to settlement oversight.

Since opening a sobering triage and transition program in December (a county‑contracted site Justin described as having taken two months to stand up), staff said they have seen more than 1,000 individuals and estimate about 80% have been referred to higher‑level care. Justin said the program has reduced unnecessary ER visits and law‑enforcement involvement and that city partners have joined the county in funding expansions.

Looking toward phase 3, Justin said the board is evaluating investments such as additional support to law enforcement for upstream prevention, expanded youth‑based investments, and funding to cover startup deficits in the first six months of new facilities' operations. He said the county has not yet finalized phase‑3 allocations and will seek input from advisory groups before the board decides.

Board members asked about a previously planned expansion of medication‑assisted treatment (MAT). Justin said Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) had additional revenue, which allowed the health district to cover some expansion without drawing on opioid settlement dollars; the county is re‑assessing whether further MAT expansion is needed.

Justin encouraged advisory board members to consult the county's opioid project web pages for details and thanked local partners for joint funding.