When: September 16, 2025 – 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: Yakima Valley Museum
Who: Over 100 community members attended
Speakers:
- Kyle Curtis, Yakima County Commissioner
- Jamie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer, Triumph Treatment Services
- Gillian Zuckerman, Medical Director of Addictions, Comprehensive Healthcare, and Hunter Sully, a former patient of medical detox
- Megan Tweedy, Community Champion
Background
Substance use disorders (SUD) continue to plague communities across the United States, and Yakima County is no exception. In recent years, the staggering rise in opioid overdoses, notably a 20% increase in fatal cases in just one year, underscores the urgent need for effective intervention strategies. Medically monitored withdrawal services, more easily referred to as “medical detox”, plays a pivotal role in this continuum of care, providing individuals with the essential support they need to navigate the dangerous and often overwhelming withdrawal process.
Triumph Treatment Services recognizes the need for medical detox in Yakima and has spearheaded a feasibility study, funded by private philanthropy, which concurs that there is an urgent need for medical detox in Yakima.
The Yakima Valley Community Foundation sponsored a public forum in partnership with the Medical Detox Taskforce to present these findings and the need to the community through its Community Conversations: Investing in Medical Detox on September 16, 2025.
Yakima County Commissioner Kyle Curtis, who spoke first, works on many issues affecting our community, but few are as complex, challenging, and emotional as the struggle with addiction. Over the past two years, the Board of County Commissioners has allocated over $12 million from the Mental Health/Substance Use Sales Tax to various programs aimed at addressing substance use disorders. While we’ve seen positive outcomes, there is still much more work to do. The County’s strategic plan for tackling homelessness emphasizes that medical detox can be a game-changer in the homeless response system. A healthy community leads to a thriving community.
Dr. Jamie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer of Triumph Treatment Services, provided a concise explanation of what medical detox is and why it is necessary in our community. This is the recap of her presentation:
What is Medical Detox?
Medical detox is not simply a preliminary step but a critical phase that lays the foundation for recovery. Unlike social detox, which provides a safe environment for those with low medical risk of withdrawal complications, medical detox is designed for individuals facing significant physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal. The withdrawal from substances like alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines can include debilitating symptoms such as intense body aches, nausea, severe anxiety, and unmanageable cravings.
For many, the experience of detoxing off fentanyl can feel like enduring the worst flu multiplied tenfold. Such withdrawal symptoms often deter individuals from continuing their journey toward recovery, pushing them into a “yo-yo cycle” of use and relapse. In fact, the risk of overdose escalates after a period of abstinence since tolerance diminishes, making it even more critical for individuals to receive medical support during this vulnerable time.
Medical detox aims to alleviate discomfort and prevent potentially life-threatening complications such as seizures and dehydration. It stabilizes patients, allowing them to engage effectively in treatment after detox, which is integral to long-term recovery. A dedicated team of healthcare professionals supports this process, offering 24/7 medical supervision and individualized treatment plans that consider co-morbid psychiatric and medical issues while providing necessary medications for symptom management.
Understanding the Need for Medical Detox
The numbers in Yakima County tell a painful story. According to Washington’s Department of Health, there were 112 fatal opioid overdoses and nearly 700 nonfatal opioid overdoses recorded at local emergency departments in 2024. To put this in perspective, Yakima County Emergency Medical Services responded to over 1,185 suspected overdoses, revealing a community in crisis. Beyond opioids, total hospital charges related to SUD soared to $17 million over just 14 months, with an alarming 90% of individuals discharged without a connection to further treatment.
Those most acutely affected by overdose often fall within vulnerable populations, grappling with social determinants of health such as low income, unstable housing, and involvement in the justice system. These individuals face significant hurdles, making it critical to expand access to medical detox services, which currently remain strikingly underrepresented in the region.
The Continuum of Care for Recovery
A robust system of care for individuals with SUD encompasses various stages, including prevention, early intervention, outpatient services, and, significantly, medical detox, which is essential within this care continuum, as it ensures patients receive appropriate medical supervision during the physically painful stage of withdrawal.
Currently, while Yakima has over 300 substance use disorder beds and numerous outpatient services, the absence of local medically monitored withdrawal services presents a significant gap. Those in need often face a transportation barrier to facilities located over 100 miles away in cities like Kent, Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane.
This distance, coupled with the challenges presented by social determinants of health, discourages many from seeking necessary treatment, leaving them vulnerable to the dangerous dynamics of continuing their substance use or successfully managing the overwhelming symptoms of detoxification at home.
The Patient’s Perspective
Dr. Gillian Zuckerman, Medical Director of Addictions at Comprehensive Healthcare, along with Hunter Sully, who experienced medical detox, explained what medical detox is from the perspective of the patient:
Understanding opioid withdrawal can be difficult for those who have never experienced it. Many describe it as feeling similar to death. However, medications are available that can ease withdrawal symptoms, making the process more manageable and decreasing the chances of individuals returning to substance use to escape their discomfort.
A medical detox program could provide specialized and compassionate care for community members who do not qualify for hospital admission. Factors such as homelessness, medical complexity, or the types of substances they use may prevent them from enduring withdrawal on their own. While this may not be a complete solution, it is an essential and needed part of the support system that the community has required for many years.
“Since 12 years old, I have been using, nothing worked but detox gave me a chance, it helped save my life,” said Hunter Sully, Peer Specialist at Comprehensive Healthcare, who walks alongside clients with substance use disorders to achieve recovery. “Now I speak for those silenced through addiction,” she continued.
It is crucial to prioritize the voices and experiences of those who have used drugs when designing these support systems.
The Path Forward
As Yakima County struggles with a growing substance use crisis, the establishment of local medical detox services is an urgent priority. Expanding access to medically monitored withdrawal management will not only prevent individuals from falling through the cracks of an already strained system but also foster a healthier and more resilient community. Recovery is not just about addressing substance use; it is about supporting individuals holistically with the dignity they deserve, ensuring they have every opportunity to reclaim their lives. Medical detox is a critical step toward healing, recovery, and a brighter future for those impacted by the devastating effects of substance use disorders.
What is a Community Champion?
An advocate who stays informed as our community explores investing in a Medical Detox Facility in Yakima County. We will keep you in the loop on progress, funding opportunities (grant, legislative, and private), and advocacy efforts. By sharing information widely with neighbors, elected officials, industry providers, and beyond, we can all work together to make smart decisions in Yakima’s fight against the opioid epidemic.