DESC client Travis Gardner calls the ORCA Center his “home away from home”
The Seattle Times recently featured DESC’s Opioid Recovery & Care Access (ORCA) Center in an article about decreases in fatal fentanyl overdoses in King County and funding challenges to innovative opioid use disorder treatments.
In the story, ORCA Center Senior Medical Lead Dr. Callan Fockele estimated that 10% of King County’s emergency responses to suspected opioid overdose now bring people to ORCA. Since opening in August 2025, that’s been more than 300 people post-overdose, and 2,999 walk-ins.
Many of these visits turn into comprehensive help for people with opioid use disorder, with ORCA having helped more than 370 clients get started on opioid use medications — clients like Travis Gardner featured in the piece.
Since starting monthly injections of buprenorphine, Travis has been able to stop using opioids altogether. “No, I don’t need it. I don’t miss it,” he said to the Seattle Times.
Travis now visits the ORCA Center monthly for his injection and has since stopped using fentanyl, calling it “a home away from home.”
With treatment and supportive housing, Travis now has hope for a different future for himself.
“To be able to look forward and have a purpose again, belonging to something,” he said.
ORCA Center services include post-overdose care, monthly injections of medication that help curb opioid craving and use, and connection to other supports like shelter, behavioral health treatment, and permanent supportive housing. Learn more about the ORCA Center here.
Read Travis’ story and more about opioid use disorder treatment at the ORCA Center below:
Read the Seattle Times