In 1973, Evergreen Treatment Services—then Central Maintenance Breakthrough Program—opened amid a national call for war against “public enemy no. 1”—drugs. Despite this difficult and stigmatizing policy environment, ETS opened its doors to community members in need of care. When it comes to serving the most vulnerable people in our community, care is always the right response. Care is evergreen.
2023 marked our 50th anniversary. Throughout the year, we shared stories about what we’ve learned over the last five decades, what inspired us to keep going, and how we hope ETS continues to grow and evolve.
Learn about ETS’s history though those that have made it happen:
- Carol Davidson: We’re in this for the long haul
- Jackie Brolsma: A cheerleader for our patients
- Tom Odell: Treating people with dignity
- 1970s and 80s: Opening doors during the War on Drugs
- Ron Jackson: Harm reduction is treatment
- 1990s: The HIV epidemic and harm reduction
- Yoji Kobayashi: Whatever it takes to keep patients in treatment
- Paul Grekin: We are committed to providing high-quality care
- 2000s: The rise of prescription opioids
- Molly Carney: It is our obligation to speak truth to power
- 2010s: The second wave of the opioid epidemic
- 2020s: COVID-19, racial reckoning, and fentanyl crisis frame the way forward
- Brandie Flood: We never give up on people
On May 18 at Metropolist in SODO, we commemorated this milestone with our community! At the event, we unveiled an ETS timeline that shows key moments in our history—from the first patient to walk through our doors to today. Check out the photo essay from that event.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and subscribe to our email list to learn more about our history, hear what we’ve learned, and explore where we’re headed in our next 50 years. We have made it this far with the support of our partners and community—we will make it further with you by our side!
