Media Release: Construction begins on Salvation Army detox centre

Share This Post

Construction begins on Salvation Army detox centre

Ten dedicated detox beds for sufferers of drug and alcohol addiction will soon become available in Townsville, after construction began on a new detox facility at the Salvation Army’s Recovery Services Centre.
 
Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson turned the sod on the $1.4-million project this morning, which is 50% funded by the Australian Government.
 
He said the centre would free up beds in the existing residential centre.
 
“It wasn’t so long ago that I was here with the Minister for Health announcing this funding and this partnership and it’s something that I’ve heard so much about from the community as well,” Mr Thompson said.
 
“There is a need in our community, there’s been a need for a long time, and with the expansion of this facility, it will give better access to people to get those supports that they need.”
 
Salvation Army Townsville Recovery Services Manager Captain Brad Whittle said the purpose-built facility would take around seven months to build.
 
“We’re partnering with the Commonwealth Government today to make this vision a reality, and it will enhance our capacity to meet needs in our community, and respond to the drug and alcohol needs of those in the North Queensland area,” he said.
 
“For me this is a gateway of hope. The facility itself actually encounters people at their most critical point of need, and provides care and support to nurture them through a detox process.
 
“But more than that, it sets them on a pathway to restoration.”
 
Recovering ice addict Mark Johns said he had spent two weeks in the detox centre, before living at the facility for eight months, focusing on his long-term recovery.
 
“That detox here gave me a safe space to rest up, to eat, to sleep, to be safe,” he said. “The program today has been wonderful. I’m over eight months clean, I’ve had an addiction for over 20 years, so I know this program works.
 
“This has made me a better man. It’s brought my family back together. I have contact with my partner, I have contact with my kids again.
 
“I owe a lot to this program, I owe my life to this program.”
 
The Federal Government is supporting the building of facilities and provision of services at the Centre, with $6.07-million in funding over five years.

ENDS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Get updates and learn from the best