Washington State Launches Mobile Opioid Treatment Unit in Rural Kittitas County
Comprehensive Healthcare brings life-saving methadone and buprenorphine services to Ellensburg via new mobile unit, addressing a decade of rising overdose deaths in the region.
A new mobile medical unit is bringing certified opioid addiction treatment to Ellensburg, Washington, eliminating a two-hour round trip that has kept many Kittitas County residents from accessing life-saving care.
Comprehensive Healthcare, one of Washington's largest behavioral health organizations, launched its Mobile Unit on May 26, 2026, parking at the corner of East 2nd Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Ellensburg. The unit offers full Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) services, including methadone and buprenorphine dosing, counseling, provider visits, and drug screening.
The Crisis in Kittitas County
The arrival of mobile treatment comes after a decade of sharply rising overdose deaths in this rural Central Washington county. According to the Kittitas County Public Health Department, the fatal opioid overdose rate tripled between 2014 and 2023, climbing from 7.4 to 26.2 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Hospitalizations from opioid overdoses in Kittitas County have also surpassed the state average and continue to climb. In 2024 alone, the county recorded 29 emergency room visits and 29 emergency medical services responses for opioid overdoses.
"Timely and consistent access to substance use treatment medications is the foundation of effective recovery, and what's been missing for Kittitas County," said Dr. Gillian Zuckerman, addictionologist at Comprehensive Healthcare. "With no local option for medication-assisted treatment, clients previously faced a two-hour round trip to Yakima to receive their medications, putting consistent care out of reach for many."
What the Mobile Unit Provides
The Comprehensive Mobile Unit operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Services include:
- Methadone and buprenorphine dosing — FDA-approved medications that reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Individual and group counseling — Behavioral therapy to support long-term recovery
- Provider visits — Medical oversight and care coordination
- Drug screening — Monitoring to support treatment adherence
- Referrals — Connections to additional service providers as needed
Current clients are transitioning to the Mobile Unit, and new clients can begin enrollment by calling Comprehensive Healthcare's OTP direct line at (509) 317-2622.
Why Mobile Treatment Matters
Research consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Methadone reduces the risk of fatal overdose by 50-75% and non-fatal overdose by approximately 60%. Buprenorphine offers similar protective benefits with a lower risk of overdose itself.
Yet rural communities across the United States face significant barriers to accessing these proven treatments. Transportation challenges, stigma, and a shortage of specialized providers leave many without options. Mobile units directly address the geographic barrier, bringing evidence-based care to underserved areas.
"Expanding our substance use treatment medication services to Kittitas County is rooted in our mission to meet clients where they are, when they need us," said Dr. Jodi Daly, CEO of Comprehensive Healthcare. "The Mobile Unit is another step toward ensuring access to every individual seeking care."
A Model for Rural Communities
Comprehensive Healthcare has provided substance use disorder treatment since 1972 and has operated an Opioid Treatment Program since 1973. The nonprofit organization is accredited by The Joint Commission and serves communities across central and southern Washington.
The Ellensburg mobile unit represents a growing trend in addiction medicine: taking treatment directly to communities rather than expecting patients to overcome transportation and logistical barriers. Similar mobile programs have shown success in other rural and underserved areas, improving retention in treatment and reducing overdose deaths.
For families in Kittitas County who have watched loved ones struggle with opioid addiction, the mobile unit offers something that hasn't existed locally before: consistent, evidence-based care without the burden of long-distance travel.
Getting Help
If you or someone you know in Kittitas County is struggling with opioid use disorder, help is now available locally:
- Comprehensive Healthcare Mobile Unit: (509) 317-2622
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) — free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral
- Washington Recovery Help Line: 1-866-789-1511 — statewide support for substance use and mental health
The mobile unit's presence in Ellensburg marks a significant step forward for rural addiction treatment in Washington State, turning the tide against a decade of rising overdose deaths through expanded access to proven, life-saving medications.
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