Salvation Army lends a hand against opioid epidemic

WASILLA — As the Mat-Su Valley continues developing rehabilitation resources to handle a growing drug and alcohol abuse issue, one organization stands ready to assist. The Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center may be based in Anchorage, but it welcomes men from all over Alaska and beyond.

Salvation Army Major Paul Chouinard and program intake coordinator Skylar Heiner attended the Oct. 1 Mat-Su Opioid Take Force meeting to give a presentation on the organization’s program. The facility has been at its current location, 660 East 48th Street near Old Seward Highway, for 35 years. Chouinard, and his wife, along with 53 employees, oversee the program. He said the Anchorage center can accommodate up to 60 men.

Both he and his wife are ordained ministers.

“We’ve been helping people with substance abuse problems since 1890 starting in London, England,” Chouinard said. “Our main focus is addictive behavior. We focus on drugs and alcohol. We don’t focus on major medical mental issues.”

Chouinard said the Anchorage center is one of 120 across the country. Almost all work with males but there are some that also help rehabilitate women. Chouinard explained the program is faith-based but not necessarily religious. He said the only prerequisite is that a man must be sober when walking through the door to start the program.

“If they are detoxing, we keep that in mind. They just have to be sober to come through the front door. We deal mainly with alcohol and drug issues. We do help a few men that have become socially marginalized, ones who don’t function well socially. If there are other issues we try and help them,” Chouinard said. “We have 12 rooms with five beds each. There is new carpeting throughout.”

Chouinard said the program does have rules and standards with sobriety at the top of the list. Prior to program entry, there is a three-page application that must be addressed.

We consider ourselves to be a social model. When you put 60 men together, good things happen. God is part of it,” Chouinard explained. “They are in the program for six months, 35 percent go six months. The average stay is four months. They are taken care of, educated and fed. Every day they stay with us is a day of sobriety. They have to test negative for common drugs to get in the door.”

Chouinard said the program does allow individuals to enter if they test for other drugs as long as they are under a doctor’s care and/or are in the process of detoxification.”

Participants utilize the well-known 12-step program. There are seven meetings a week. Five are required with two inside the center and three outside. Chouinard said once a participant establishes trustworthiness, they may attend all outside meetings. He said each time a participant enters or leaves the building, they undergo a breathalyzer.

“We make sure they get there. We also do random UA (urine analysis), it we have any doubts. If they come up dirty, they’re discharged from the program,” said Chouinard, adding that such clients are welcome to reapply.

“We don’t have a standard of work. The men are not paid but help with (Salvation Army Thrift Store) donations. They help unload, sort, price, load and send items back out to the stores,” Chouinard explained. “It gets the men up on their feet. Some haven’t worked much, some have been homeless, some not able to work. All get physically fit by getting active and getting good food. Those who were overweight lose weight and those who were underweight build muscle through exercise.”

Chouinard said there are additional work-related opportunities for those enrolled in the program. Up to six men are allowed to work in the kitchen alongside a paid professional kitchen supervisor. This allows them a chance to gain additional work-related experience they might otherwise have no chance of being exposed to.

The program also incorporates daily devotionals in the facility chapel. Chouinard said the men do not have to be believers.

“You can do other things but you have to show up (in one of those chairs in the chapel). Our chapel services are not open to the public,” said Chouinard. However after 30 days of participating in the program, family members, spouses, family members and/or sponsors may join them.

With room for 60 participants, Chouinard said clients are accepted from all over the state. If someone is willing to try, the Salvation Army will fly them into Anchorage at no expense.

“The whole state...and if and if someone from Texas calls, I have a bed for them,” Chouinard said.

Heiner, who went through the program himself, explained the program isn’t limited to six months. He said participants may enroll as long as two years, in six month increments. This allows them to gain valuable liife skills.

“In Phase 2 and 3 of the program, they can learn new jobs. They don’t have to leave; they can stay with us. There are still rules. It’s a good program. They can take the time to look for a job and not take the first thing they see,” Heiner said. “If they’re not having to worry about rent, they can take the time to apply at places they never thought they could get...never even given the time to try if they hadn’t had a chance.”

Chouinard said the program works with those enrolled on job skills and resumes. He said those who are successful at gaining employment may continue living at the center but do have to pay $600 month rent.

“But we can only allow five men at a time (in that part of the program). Want to keep beds open for guys who need help,” Chouinard explained. “We help them get on the federal health care program and with food stamps.”

When questioned whether the state’s Department of Corrections (DOC) referred clients, Chouinard said it sued to. He said a while back, Alaska DOT officials said they were requiring all similar facilities to be state certified.

“We couldn’t meet all their guidelines. Of the 120 centers nationwide, one or two are state certified,” Chouinard said. “Our model works. The national average (for remaining substance-free) for six months is 10 percent. Our rate is 30 percent. If we keep them in the program for one year is 86 percent which is much higher than the national.

“We’re working with everyone to the best of our ability, but we can’t stop being who where are,” Paul said.

Heiner said he is doing his best to negotiate standards that would make the program again eligible under Alaska DOC guidelines.

“We are self-funded. Our thrift store (sales) pay for the program,” Chouinard said. “So what is the cost for a man to come through our doors? Zero. It’s free. It cost us about $10,000 for the six months (per enrollee). A big part of the deal is that we are self-funded. We need your donations, your friends’ donations, your enemies’ donations. So shop in our stores!”

Chouinard said Salvation Army does do home pick up. It also has donation bins around the region.

“You’ll be seeing more of those in the area. We have a good-sized warehouse. We sell new and used merchandise. Can’t mention retailer but we buy new items and resell at a very good price!,” Chouinard concluded.

For more information on the program, 1-907-562-5408.