Editorial
Here’s a chance to celebrate a major accomplishment by lots of people and organizations working together to advance a vital cause, despite the hard times that dominate the news these days.
Southwest Florida Addiction Services opened a new treatment center last week at 3763 Evans Ave. in Fort Myers, the first detoxification center to be built in Lee County in 50 years.
It was rightly hailed as evidence of the community’s growing awareness of the price we all pay for drug and alcohol addiction, and of the success addicts can have if they get good treatment.
“It’s an affirmation of the community’s understanding that addiction is treatable,” said SWFAS CEO Kevin Lewis.
Predictably, this story also includes a challenge.
SWFAS raised $6.1 million of the $9.5million cost of the center, then financed enough to allow construction.
Now the organization will have to raise enough to pay off the remaining construction costs and expand its programs to fully use the new facility. It has the capacity for 40 beds, but opened with 25 because not enough nurses and staff are available.
SWFAS CEO Kevin Lewis said there were 46 people on the waiting list for detoxification beds last week.
The center also has space to begin a detox program for people whose home situation and medical condition allow outpatient treatment.
Raising money is extra hard with government and other sources extra hard-pressed. Money for the center came from local businesses, nonprofits and individual donors, as well as the county, state and federal governments. SWFAS will have to go back to the same sources for help.
It is a hopeful sign that people understand better than ever that family violence including child abuse, crime, traffic deaths, unemployment and human misery in general are intimately related to substance abuse. The problem is growing; the recession can only make things worse.
Remember that when SWFAS comes calling.
Additional Facts
TO HELP OR FIND HELP
For information or to help SWFAS, call 239-278-7595.
