Salvation Army Clitheroe Center

The Salvation Army Clitheroe Center has a long tradition of providing affordable, professional treatment services to impact one of Alaska's most extensive-and expensive- community health issues, substance abuse.

 

For the past two years, Salvation Army officials have worked with Senator Johnny Ellis and other state and municipal officials to secure funding to implement a new program to provide a supportive environment where men and women who are labeled, for lack of better words, chronic inebriates. The program will open with four detox beds and another eight dedicated for long-term treatment.

 

"While the program operates under AS 47.30.730, which provides for the involuntary commitment of individuals into treatment, the program is not intended as a punitive measure," said Robert Heffle, Executive Director at Clitheroe Center. "The STU program has been developed to engage those who are resistant to treatment due to their advanced addiction, and who are at risk of harm, to make healthier choices regarding the direction of their lives."

 

While the program is not intended to be the only solution to such a significant issue, The Salvation Army believes its a part of the solution for such a pervasive problem in Alaska.