The Salvation Army Clitheroe Center
Clitheroe Center, located in Anchorage, Alaska, opened in 1976 to treat Alaskans suffering from both mental health and addiction issues. Named after Salvation Army officer, Major Cyril “Jack” Clitheroe, the rehabilitation center has treated thousands of Alaskans wanting to be freed from the grasp of alcohol and drug addiction. In 1947, Major Clitheroe began helping those struggling with alcoholism on his own by providing spiritual guidance out of his garage. He strongly believed that those battling addiction could overcome it completely.
Forty-five years after inception, the program has developed into a CARF accredited dual-diagnosis treatment center for those seeking both outpatient and residential treatment serving over 1,000 Alaskans annually. Anyone who wants and needs to go to Clitheroe for treatment must fill out an application and receive an assessment for a rehabilitation program. Clitheroe specifically treats individuals who are experiencing substance abuse or need dual-diagnosis treatment including substance abuse and mental health services. Clitheroe’s residential and outpatient programs are both offered to men and women and typically last 90 to 120 days depending on the needs of the client. Additionally, Clitheroe Outpatient provides a three-day course called Alcohol and Other Drugs Information School (ADIS) for both youth and adults.
Clitheroe Residential is a 42-bed facility located in West Anchorage. Each client who participates in the residential program has a set schedule every day which includes group therapy, life skills training and individual therapy. “Consistency is key to rehabilitation,” noted Captain Denice Delgado, The Salvation Army’s Anchorage Associate Social Services Director. The program also provides case management for those finishing the program and peer support throughout their stay.
In 2017, The Salvation Army was awarded a contract with the Alaska Department of Corrections to provide Substance Abuse and Treatment Services, also known as SATS, and has since continued to provide services. Through SATS, The Salvation Army’s Clitheroe program helps inmates struggling with addiction at Goose Creek, Hiland Mountain and the Anchorage Complex correctional facilities. Salvation Army employees are in each location providing services aligned with evidence-based material for the rehabilitation of clients.
Inmates who take part in SATS, who have a history of opiate-specific abuse, can also take part in the Medication Assisted Treatment (MATr) program if they pass a health screening. The treatment plan uses the drug Vivitrol to assist with rehabilitation. Vivitrol is a non-addictive opioid blocker administered monthly to assist patients alongside intensive counseling services.
“An inmate we had at Hiland Mountain went through our MATr program. She was 12 years old when she started using hard narcotics including heroin. She is now her 40s and Vivitrol helped her overcome addiction,” said Captain Delgado. “The client thought she would never recover after using for so long, but she did recover through the MATr program. Two years after leaving Hiland Mountain, she was able to regain custody of her children, she has a job, an apartment and has stayed clean since.”
Learn more about The Salvation Army’s Clitheroe Center at https://clitheroe.salvationrrmy.org.