Old Town acupuncture school plans to shut down, blames area [Video]

PORTLAND, Ore. — A longstanding Oregon acupuncture school is closing in Portland’s Old Town. The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, or OCOM, is one of the top acupuncture schools in the country, staff said. Though due to its location, staff said it’s become more challenging to stay in business.

“Starting with the pandemic, we saw an increase of crime, increase of open drug use,” Phil Lundberg, the President of the OCOM, said.

Since COVID, many businesses have left Old Town. Now, Lundberg said OCOM has seen a rise in abuse and attacks directed toward faculty and students from people on the streets in Old Town. The school has also seen attendance drop by half, Lundberg added.

“We hear from prospective students that their families counseled them against coming to Portland, whereas that used to be a draw,” he …