Josh Lair is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Ideal Option which covers the State of Oregon and Southwest Washington. Ideal Option is one of the nation’s largest outpatient providers of evidence-based medication-assisted treatment for addiction to opioids, alcohol, methamphetamine, and other substances. Founded in 2012 by two emergency medicine physicians, Ideal Option’s mission is to provide underserved populations with low-barrier access to evidence-based addiction treatment – saving lives, healing families, and helping communities.

Josh is also the Chief Operating Officer of Be Bold Street Ministries, which serves the US, Costa Rica, and Philippines, bringing the love of Christ to the streets every day. After 20 years of addiction, Christ met Josh in E Block cell 288 at the Oregon State Penitentiary. Through the grace and power of Christ, Josh has been free of addiction since January 11, 2011. He was called to go back into the darkness that Christ saved Him from and is now a certified counselor, works with the Salem Police to deescalate interactions with the homeless community, and has been with Be Bold Street Ministries since 2016.

So today, you’re going to learn a bit of Josh’s story, get some insight into the reality of life for those on the street, gain understanding of the drug, alcohol and mental illness crisis that’s growing in our state and hear some of Josh’s perspectives on what can be done to help.