News (Media Awareness Project) - CN AB: Drug, Alcohol Treatment Proposed For Ex-Work Camp |
| Title: | CN AB: Drug, Alcohol Treatment Proposed For Ex-Work Camp |
| Published On: | 2005-11-24 |
| Source: | Red Deer Advocate (CN AB) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-14 22:47:31 |
DRUG, ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROPOSED FOR EX-WORK CAMP
Work has begun to spruce up a former prison work camp near Tees to
turn it into a private residential drug and alcohol treatment centre
by March.
In the meantime, it will open next week and operate as a camp to house
oilfield workers.
Lacombe County has approved the site for oilfield workers. Rezoning is
still necessary for it to become a treatment centre.
When the camp becomes the Central Alberta Recovery Centre it will
provide five-week voluntary treatment for up to 20 men.
Jim Gray, a manager of construction camps from Ponoka, and social work
student Karen Cretney of Clive took possession this week of the camp,
located a few kilometres northeast of Tees.
"It would work absolutely perfectly as a treatment centre. Out there,
there's no distractions," said Cretney, who has been sober for four
years.
"I am a recovering alcoholic. I've been to treatment and seen the
difference."
The work camp closed in April 2004 as part of a provincial plan to
revamp its corrections system.
The camp at Tees has a 20-bed dorm, a separate kitchen, recreation
hall, two office trailers and a house trailer.
Gray has been sober for 16 years. As soon as he saw the camp, he knew
it could be put to good use.
Kath Hoffman, residential director with Safe Harbour Society in Red
Deer, said making residential treatment available in Central Alberta
is the next step to provide a continuum of addictions services.
"We have none. There is nothing local here for residential addictions
services. That is a glaring gap," Hoffman said.
Safe Harbour is focused on getting a detox facility for Red Deer, but
it's not too early to talk about getting funding for a treatment
centre in Red Deer, she said.
"It's a natural question. Where are we heading next in Red
Deer?
Outpatient treatment available from AADAC works for some people.
Others prefer to leave their community to get treatment to remain
anonymous. But some do want or need local residential treatment,"
Hoffman said.
"We know that's what's necessary."
Work has begun to spruce up a former prison work camp near Tees to
turn it into a private residential drug and alcohol treatment centre
by March.
In the meantime, it will open next week and operate as a camp to house
oilfield workers.
Lacombe County has approved the site for oilfield workers. Rezoning is
still necessary for it to become a treatment centre.
When the camp becomes the Central Alberta Recovery Centre it will
provide five-week voluntary treatment for up to 20 men.
Jim Gray, a manager of construction camps from Ponoka, and social work
student Karen Cretney of Clive took possession this week of the camp,
located a few kilometres northeast of Tees.
"It would work absolutely perfectly as a treatment centre. Out there,
there's no distractions," said Cretney, who has been sober for four
years.
"I am a recovering alcoholic. I've been to treatment and seen the
difference."
The work camp closed in April 2004 as part of a provincial plan to
revamp its corrections system.
The camp at Tees has a 20-bed dorm, a separate kitchen, recreation
hall, two office trailers and a house trailer.
Gray has been sober for 16 years. As soon as he saw the camp, he knew
it could be put to good use.
Kath Hoffman, residential director with Safe Harbour Society in Red
Deer, said making residential treatment available in Central Alberta
is the next step to provide a continuum of addictions services.
"We have none. There is nothing local here for residential addictions
services. That is a glaring gap," Hoffman said.
Safe Harbour is focused on getting a detox facility for Red Deer, but
it's not too early to talk about getting funding for a treatment
centre in Red Deer, she said.
"It's a natural question. Where are we heading next in Red
Deer?
Outpatient treatment available from AADAC works for some people.
Others prefer to leave their community to get treatment to remain
anonymous. But some do want or need local residential treatment,"
Hoffman said.
"We know that's what's necessary."
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