Portland must be thoughtful about solutions to addiction | Letter
Local Counselor Challenges Efficacy of Forced Treatment in Portland Addiction Debate
PORTLAND — A mental health professional with over a decade of experience in addiction care is pushing back against the notion that mandating rehabilitation is a sound strategy for the city's substance abuse crisis.
In a letter to the editor responding to a recent column, Rosalie Genova, a Portland-based licensed clinical professional counselor and certified clinical supervisor, argued that coercive treatment models have failed to produce results despite a long history of use. Genova has spent 13 years working in addiction treatment and is responding to a Sept. 26 column by Leslie Bridgers titled “Aggressive behavior by ‘addicts’ is testing Portland’s values.”
Genova’s letter contends that the current discourse on addiction often overlooks the practical realities of clinical intervention. She asserts that treating compelled participation as a logical solution is a mischaracterization of what actually works in patient care.
“Forcing people into treatment is neither ‘common sense’ nor ‘practical,’” Genova wrote. She added that the longevity of these programs offers little reassurance of their success. “We’ve also been doing it for almost 100 years already, and, needless to say, it’s not working.”
The correspondence also addresses the political rhetoric currently shaping public opinion on the issue. Genova acknowledged that Mayor Dion’s emphasis on personal accountability has struck a chord with many residents seeking definitive answers to difficult community problems. However, she cautioned that widespread agreement with a political message does not validate its effectiveness.
“Mayor Dion’s ‘accountability’ rhetoric resonates with a lot of people desperate for solutions. That doesn’t mean he’s right,” she said.
Rather than endorsing the framework of forced compliance, Genova directs readers toward a July 2026 cover story she authored for The Bollard, titled “We All Need The Same Things.” In that piece, she outlines what genuine progress in addiction care could resemble, grounding her recommendations in clinical experience and existing research rather than political sentiment.
The exchange highlights a continuing friction within Portland regarding public order and health intervention. While the original column framed recent aggressive incidents as a moral challenge for the community, Genova’s response shifts the focus toward the historical record of treatment mandates and alternative methods rooted in professional expertise.
