DRUG ADDICTION CENTER IS URGED

Facility Would Serve Latinos

WORCESTER- Raphael Rosario is a changed man.

The Burncoat High School graduate conquered his drug addiction with the
help of Spanish support groups offered at the residential treatment
facility Catholic Charities Crozier House at 10 Hammond St. Without the
groups, he said, he was lost for words at the facility because he knew
limited English and was not allowed to speak Spanish unless he used a
translator.

Because of the language barrier, only a few Latinos enrolled in the
program. Some, like Mr. Rosario, succeeded. Many did not.

"I know lots of people who dropped out because they didn't understand the
rules," he said. "Also it is hard to get your point across (in English).
What you're feeling is hard to express."

Centro Las Americas and other community members of the Latino Treatment Ad
Hoc Committee have been meeting for more than a year to address the
problems Latino residents face in traditional treatment programs.

The result is a proposal for a 20- to 25-bed facility that will address
the lack of a culturally and linguistically sensitive addiction treatment
program for Worcester's largest minority population.

The program would use a multidisciplinary treatment approach incorporating
transitional assistance from acute detoxification to reintegration into
society.

The group said the facility will address what it sees as the root cause of
drug-related homelessness and violence in the community.

"Latinos have distinct clinically important issues," said Jack Maroney, an
operations manager at AdCare Hospital of Worcester and a licensed substance
abuse counselor. "They have strong family values and are more religious
than is allowed in traditional, mainstream treatment facilities."

Organizers say the proposed facility would have a measurable effect in the
city, where 31 percent of substance abuse admissions and 58 percent
of heroin admissions are Latino.

"We are offering a solution to the problems with the PIP (People in Peril)
shelter," said Mr. Maroney. "Residents of our program will be required to
become positive members of the community. They will be out planting
flowers and helping the elderly with their groceries. They may be
contributing more than the average citizen."

When it comes down to it, the group says, people will succeed in an
environment where they feel the most comfortable.

"We are not coming up with anything new," said Miriam Torres, a Worcester
resident and registered nurse who works with substance abusers.
"Springfield and Boston already have successful programs (like the proposed
facility) available. Why should we make residents leave the city to get
what they need?"

Orlando Rodriguez, executive director of Centro Las Americas, said the
facility would go hand-in-hand with established services at the center.

"Our board of directors is completely supportive and we have the
reputation in the community of being able to get this done," he said. "We
are respecting the city's request to hold off plans for this
facility until they complete their review. But we are beginning our
fund-raising and grant-writing phase and encourage the community to offer
suggestions."

There has been significant controversy over transitional homes in the city.
Some community organizers say Worcester is unfairly burdened with
caring for the homeless and the socially dependent.

The group said city officials are supportive, but that they are scared to
openly support an issue with high publicity stakes.

The group expects significant challenges from some community members.
Group members said they are undaunted, however, because they feel the
treatment facility is an idea whose time has come.

"We need input. We need help. But this will happen over time regardless
because people are dying," said Mr. Rodriguez. "If someone out there has a
better way, then we'd like to hear it."

Mr. Rodriguez said anyone with questions or suggestions should contact him
at (508) 798-1900.