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For people in addiction treatment who feel like they have nothing, a Portland-area nonprofit is offering something powerful and completely free.
Go The Distance (GTD) partners with free rehabs near you and low-cost rehab centers across the Portland metro area, bringing structured running and walking programs directly to patients at no charge.
GTD visits treatment centers to promote recovery through running, community, and fitness. For patients who may be uninsured or relying on Medicaid to cover rehab, this kind of wraparound support, provided at zero added cost, can make a real difference in long-term recovery.
How the Free Program Works at Rehab Centers Near You
GTD currently partners with nine treatment centers in the Portland Metro Area, taking roughly 250 patients out on a run or walk twice a week. There’s no fee to participate, and patients don’t need to own any gear.
GTD supplies running shoes to patients who don’t already have a pair. After completing 12 runs or walks, participants receive a certificate and a bag of running gear, including a new pair of shoes.
The program was founded by Izzy Alvarado, who draws on his own recovery journey. Alvarado will be nine years sober this June and credits running with helping him through addiction treatment, starting with a 5K, then building up to a full marathon as a way to naturally replace dopamine and get out of his head.
Why Movement Matters in Low-Cost Rehabs
Exercise-based recovery support is increasingly recognized as an effective, low-cost complement to clinical treatment. For patients at free or sliding-scale rehab centers, a program like GTD fills gaps that traditional outpatient care may not cover.
Kim Krause, program director at Coda Beaverton Recovery Center, said GTD gives patients an additional community beyond outpatient sessions, 12-step meetings, mental health care, and primary care, a group that shows up specifically to support their health and cheer them on.
Connor Stephens, GTD’s Director of Operations and Programs, is himself a graduate of the program’s first cohort. He described the runs as restoring a mind-body connection he needed to find again, and said watching new participants go from feeling lost to feeling ready to take on the world is what drives his work.
Who Qualifies for Free or Low-Cost Treatment in Oregon
GTD’s program is available to patients already enrolled at partnering treatment centers, meaning the path in starts with finding a rehab that accepts your coverage or offers free care. In Oregon, several options exist:
- Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid): Oregon’s Medicaid program covers substance use disorder treatment, including residential and outpatient rehab, for qualifying low-income residents.
- SAMHSA-funded facilities: Many Oregon rehab centers receive federal grants and offer sliding-scale or free treatment regardless of health insurance status.
- State-certified free rehabs: Oregon’s Behavioral Health division funds treatment programs specifically for uninsured individuals.
If you’re not sure where to start, SAMHSA’s National Helpline can connect you with free, confidential referrals to low-cost rehabs near you.
How to Access Free Rehabs Near You in Oregon
- Call SAMHSA’s free helpline at 1-800-662-4357 — available 24/7, in English and Spanish, at no cost.
- Check Oregon’s Medicaid eligibility at OregonHealthPlan.gov to see if your rehab costs can be covered.
- Ask about GTD at intake — if your treatment center partners with Go The Distance, you can enroll in the free running program at no added cost.
- Volunteer or refer others — GTD is currently accepting volunteers with no running experience required at gtdgothedistance.org.
Rehabs.org offers a directory that features low-cost and free addiction treatment options nationwide. Call
800-914-7089
(
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to find affordable care near you.
