New Opening Date Scheduled for Summer
In September of last year, a proposal was brought before the planning commission by Narconon Stone Hawk to open a drug rehabilitation center at the former Manistee Heights/Tendercare property at300 Care Center Dr. According to the company’s literature, “the Stone Hawk rehab program, unlike many traditional treatment centers, deals with both the physical and mental problems resulting from drug addiction.”
Originally, the plan was to open the center in May of this year, but, according to Per Wickstrom, one of the principal owners of the business, the construction costs are higher than they originally expected, so building has been delayed. “We’re probably going to begin construction probably within two months,” he says. “And we’re going to open up in the Summer. Every thing’s going real well.”
According to Wickstrom, they have been receiving a lot of phone calls about possible employment with the new facility - so many, in fact, that it has been difficult to keep up with them. Wickstrom has been doing his best to handle the wave of interest. “I want to call everybody back,” says Wickstrom. This has been difficult, however, because they have been so busy getting prepared for the renovations at the Site. Wickstrom promises that a way for applications to be sent in for jobs at the center will be made available soon, however.
Kate Wickstrom, who made the original presentation to the planning commission, has 25 years of work experience in the drug rehabilitation field. She said their Battle Creek center was established after her business partner and former husband, Per, attended a Narconon program elsewhere and used it successfully in dealing with his own addiction.
As was expected, the two largest concerns Narconon heard from the public regarding their proposal to bring a drug rehabilitation center to town were the appearance of the facility, and foremost, safety concerns. The company’s representatives and the architects plan on keeping signage for the site to a minimum, and are committed to retaining the same 1940’s architectural style of the building, while they perform the renovations to the site. Originally, the construction costs were estimated at $500,000 to $700,000, but more recent estimates have exceeded this figure.
There will also be security personnel at the facility and improvements made to insure the safety of local residents. To address any
other community concerns once the facility is in operation, the partners plan to organize an advisory committee comprised of public leaders to handle any future concerns or questions.
Public discussion has been primarily in favor of the project, to date, due to the 60-80 jobs the center will bring to the area, and the reputation and the reputation of the other Narconon facilities in Albion and Battle Creek.
After hearing a public comment last October, the city planning commission approved the special use permit for Narconon Stone Hawk for their drug rehab facility by a vote of 7-1.
One proponent of the project was Anne Evens, a supervisor at Manistee Community Mental Health, who has worked in substance abuse treatment for over 25 years. “I think I feel real positive about the program overall. I Like the Idea of the detoxification process being holistic, and also the use of the behavioral approach to therapy, which helps people learn by coping. I like the idea that they will offer 12 beds to people in the community, because there’s people here who need help. And long care treatment programs thend to be more successful than outpatient.”
Another proponent of the proposed facility eas Michael Moran, the director of Manistee-Benzie Community Mental Health. “I had an opportunity, last summer, to go down to Battle Creek, and I visited the program. I heard of absolutely no problems with anyone else or neighbors. I had an opportunity to visit with the people in the program, people who have graduated from the program, friends, and family members who have brought loved ones to this program. What I heard from most of those people… that they have gone to many programs… eight, 10, 12 programs. This is a program, that really is the last stop for people to change their lives, and they’ve had tremendous success in what they are doing.”
The program boasts a success rate of 60-70 percent two years after leaving the program. Four independent studies have been done on Stone Hawk’s methods, also attesting to their success in Spain, Sweden, Utah, and California. There is an aftercare program, which is done by following up with graduates of the program, which is done by following up with graduates of the program bi-weekly for six months after they completer their stay, which then becomes a follow-up every six months for up to two years.
Per Wickstrom, a graduate of the program in 1999, is a living example of the success of the program. “I had done five other treatment programs…and they didn’t fix my problem. that’s why I back Narconon, because i graduated successfully, I no longer do drugs, and I expanded my ability to help other people with Narconon.”
Kate Wickstrom said of the proposed project last fall that, “I feel great about it. One of the reasons we chose Manistee is because of the community. They’re very family oriented, they’re very concerned about what’s going on with their people — they’re young people. They know that addiction is a problem in their area, and that it’s a big problem with society overall. They want to be part of the solution.