Description
"Ricky's Law" made it possible in Washington to commit someone with a serious substance use disorder to involuntary treatment. Oregon has no such system.
Read more:
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/investigations/rickys-law-washington-involuntary-addiction-substance-treatment-oregon/283-b9a016f5-c0f8-43b1-85aa-3f4a744ffc8f
The name Ricky Klausmeyer-Garcia carries weight in the state of Washington. A recovery advocate, he transformed his personal story of addiction into a new state law that passed in 2016 and took effect two years later. It expanded involuntary treatment to people with substance use disorders.
Treatment, Ricky said, had saved his life, and other people should have that chance — even if they’re reluctant to accept it at first.
But when Ricky's sobriety slipped, he made his way to Portland earlier this year. By crossing the border into Oregon, Ricky found a refuge away from forced treatment as he battled addiction once again. By the time he returned to Washington, it was too late.
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