ORCA Center

515 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA, 98104 
(206) 776-2253

Two medical professionals talking in DESC's Opioid Recovery and Care Access Center
Senior Medical Lead Dr. Callan Fockele, right, talks with Kay Weaver, medical assistant, left, at the ORCA Center. Photo credit: Karen Ducey, Seattle Times. Not for reuse.

Rapid, compassionate care after overdose

The Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center is a key part of DESC’s innovative response to the opioid crisis. Located inside our Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic, it is a safe place where people can recover after an overdose, start treatment, and take the first steps toward stability — with no judgment, no barriers, and support available 24/7.

Why ORCA Is Needed 

Fentanyl has dramatically increased the risk of overdose. In King County alone, emergency medical services have responded to nearly 30,000 opioid overdoses since 2020 — many in downtown Seattle. But most people don’t get the care they need after an overdose. Emergency rooms are overcrowded, and access to proven treatments is limited. 

Medications like buprenorphine and methadone are lifesaving, but only about 1 in 4 people who need them actually receive them. ORCA changes that by offering immediate, low-barrier access to care in a supportive setting. 

What the ORCA Center Offers

24/7 post-overdose stabilization for up to eight people 
Opioid use disorder walk-in services available every day, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (times subject to change). 

At ORCA, people can: 

  • Start medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) like oral or injectable buprenorphine or methadone. 
  • Access showers, snacks, and laundry during treatment. 
  • Meet with medical staff and peer support specialists. 
  • Learn about ways to mitigate the risks of substance use. 
  • Connect to longer-term behavioral health support, shelter, and housing navigation. 
Travis Gardner, DESC client, speaks with Melanie Dickson, registered nurse at the ORCA Center. Photo credit: Karen Ducey, Seattle Times. Not for reuse.

ORCA’s Patient Outreach Division (POD), formerly known as the DESC Opioid Treatment Network, brings care directly to people who can’t make it into the clinic — meeting them where they are, whether on the streets, in an RV or tent, in a shelter, or in permanent supportive housing. The POD team provides medications for opioid use disorder and support to begin recovery in the setting that works best for each person.

Whether someone has just overdosed or wants to start treatment, ORCA is here to help — no appointment required. 

Guided by Experience, Backed by Research 

We’re working with the University of Washington’s Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (UW ADAI) to track ORCA’s impact and improve services. People with lived experience of opioid use and overdose help guide our approach to ensure the care we provide is respectful, effective, and relevant. 

ORCA builds on DESC’s decades of experience delivering substance use disorder care that is client-centered, evidence-based, and grounded in harm reduction. 

Made Possible Through Partnership  

The ORCA Center is a community effort with capital funding provided by the City of Seattle, King County, Washington State, and a generous private donor. Key partners include UW ADAI, King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and the Seattle Fire Department.  Funding for operations comes from government partners and Medicaid reimbursements. 

Need help?

Visit the ORCA Center at DESC’s Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic. 
Walk-in hours: 9 a.m.–11 p.m., 7 days a week 
(206) 776-2253
 

Learn More

Questions? Contact us at orca@desc.org.