SALVOS SEE REHAB NEED
sitting down and laughing and even crying. But we also come up with ideas and talk about what we would like to see, like a centre for these people addicted to ice.”
Ms Gee- Hoy said the group had come up with a vision of a place of healing for drug addicts, where they could turn their lives around.
“If we can safely keep them, so they can’t harm themselves or anyone else, an automatic referral system from hospital and prisons, we can help them,” she said.
“Ideally we would like to A NEW multimillion- dollar rehab facility will double the Salvation Army’s capacity to treat addicts, reflecting an increased demand in Townsville. Townsville Salvation Army manager Major David Twivey, who will run the rehab centre, said the organisation’s research found ice was becoming more prevalent. “We have done some research in the last 12 months and in Townsville ... 23 per cent of the people who come into our service are addicted to ice,” he said. “There are still a large number of people who are addicted to alcohol, but ice is certainly significant. “Ice causes grief to police, ambulance services, hospital and of course to the community.” For the first time, the new centre will provide a specific treatment site for teens aged 14- 18. “This facility will be finished at the end of May and we are looking at an opening in August,” Major Twivey said. “We will be able to cater for up to 63 people. Included in that number is an eight- bed youth- only facility for 14 to 18year- olds. “We will be offering counselling turn the old Stuart State School into a healing centre … the potential could be wonderful.
“Instead of sending them out to the community, send support and case management and support with their addiction.”
Major Twivey said the youth rehab centre would hopefully help kids get off drugs and stop them from spiralling into a life of crime.
“We don't’ want kids to end up in Cleveland ( Detention Centre) across the road,” Major Twivey said.
“We want them here to help them through their issues.”
Major Twivey said the new Garbutt facility would offer addicts the best chance for rehabilitation.
“A lot of people find that they are able to manage their addiction without coming into a residential centre, but there are a lot of people out there in the community who need the extra support,” he said.
“So we want this facility to be a dynamic, modern, state- of- the- art facility and I think it will be one of the best in the country. We want North Queenslanders to have the best opportunity they can to get well and be productive.”
Major Twivey said the new facility would also include increased capacity for women.
“We have capacity at our centre at Walker St for 33 beds and there is only four beds for women and we have 15 women on our waiting list,” he said
“So a facility here will take 12 to 16 women. That alone will be helping the community, plus the increase beds for men and the facility for youth, which has proven to be a real need for the community.” them somewhere like this, a healing centre. It’s our visions of a rainforest, with all of the things they need, without having to leave here.
“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, we can take stuff from all these facilities and tweak it for our community, to make it an alternative. It’s about giving people options. “If we build it, they will come.”