SPOKANE, Wash. – Despite years of conversation, Gabriel Minchow, founder and president of the Spokane Outreach Networking Group, says he isn’t seeing changes in the drug problem in Spokane.
Minchow, who struggled with addiction himself, moved to Spokane for treatment 10 years ago and has been sober ever since. He is now leading a group, which aims to help those currently struggling with addiction.
Minchow, reflecting on his journey, said he knew he had to act after witnessing the severity of the drug issues downtown.
“You see it—it’s evident when you go downtown. The crisis that we’re facing is taking members of our communities, taking our loved ones far too early,” said Minchow.
Statistics reported earlier this year by The Spokesman-Review show the Spokane Fire Department administered Narcan at a nearly 33% increase in May compared to previous months. Additionally, the Daily Mail in the U.K. published an article on Sunday criticizing how the city has handled the downtown crisis.
In response to these rising numbers, Minchow created a free and accessible resource guide featuring over 250 recovery organizations to support those struggling with addiction.
“We work with local city and county agencies. We work with statewide agencies and we’re even working with the federal government to try to come up with a unified approach to help this fentanyl crisis,” Minchow stated.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to assist others in recovery.
“It just means a lot to me, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the community for supporting us on this mission,” added Minchow.
The resource guide launched on Friday and aims to help individuals find programs that fit their personal needs on their recovery journey.
