Detox Centers Open In Holbrook, Winslow

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By Tammy Gray-Searles
    The new detoxification centers in Holbrook and Winslow quietly opened their doors Monday morning, with the hope that those doors will never be closed again.
    Just in time to meet grant funding requirements, the detoxification centers began offering treatment services to individuals addicted to alcohol and other substances. Holbrook Shift Manager Sylvia Ortiz ex-plained that the detoxification centers will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Individuals seeking treatment can come in at any time, even in the middle of the night, to begin receiving care and treatment.
    Ortiz noted that the only requirement for treatment at the centers is that the individual, or “relative,” as the clients will be called, be 18 years of age or older, and have a need and want to be free from alcohol and/or substance abuse.
    “The admissions are voluntary,” Ortiz noted.
    Holbrook Chief of Police Dwayne Hartup explained that the voluntary admission process at the detoxification centers will provide one more tool for officers in both Holbrook and Winslow to remove inebriates from the streets. According to Hartup, Holbrook officers will be authorized to transport individuals to the detoxification facility if they are willing to go there.
    “We’re excited, because at last we have an opportunity to do something besides stand them up straight and get them walking down the sidewalk,” he remarked. “Now we’ll have the opportunity to ask them if they’re interested in receiving treatment and help with alcohol issues.”
    According to Hartup, there have been many times when he has come into contact with an inebriated individual who asked for help, but there were few alternatives. He explained that a referral could be made to Community Counseling Center (CCC), but CCC only offered services if the individual was sober.
    “There are times we’ve had encounters where they wanted help, but we had no options. So they lost that will, either by drinking themselves back into a stupor, or sleeping it off and forgetting about it,” Hartup said.     
     “I believe there will be a shift in thought process by the police officers because now we do have that option.”
    Individuals who enter treatment at the detoxification center will stay a minimum of 24 hours, and a maximum of three to five days, depending on their needs and the availability of longer-term treatment. Or-tiz noted that meals, showers and laundry services will be provided.
    “It’s basic,” she noted. “We don’t want it to be too comfortable, but we do want to nourish them.”
    While staying at the facility, which has 14 beds for men and two for women, individuals will receive counseling as well as traditional Native American healing treatments, if they so desire. A sweat lodge will be constructed on the property, but in the meantime, nature walks and meditation will be offered forms of treatment. Ortiz noted that relatives staying at the facility will also be asked to exercise.
    “We want to get them back to a state of mind where they want to be sober,” she said.
    The facility will be staffed with a nurse, an emergency medical technician (EMT), a shift manager and a peer support specialist at all times.
    Chief Hartup noted that he expects a spike in foot traffic in the area of the detoxification center at first, but does not expect an increase in crime or damage in the area.
    HPD Sergeant Jodi Harrelson remarked, “People thought the mission (Bread of Life Mission) would bring more criminal activity on the hill, but there has not been an increase.”
    Hartup added, “I think it will provide us a really unique opportunity for a change in the current situation.”