RBC | A comprehensive treatment program for substance abuse disorders will be part of Memorial Regional Health’s services in Craig within the next 15 months, according to an article in the Craig Press (https://www.craigdailypress.com/news/mrh-invests-500000-over-two-years-for-new-substance-abuse-treatment-fascility/) last week.
Among the proponents of the project are members of the Berry family, including Dr. David Berry, who gave an emotional testimony about his own battle with addiction at a meeting held in Meeker in October. The Berry family, Meeker area property owners, donated 50 acres to Pioneers Medical Center for the new hospital site.
Dr. Berry sent a written statement to the HT Tuesday, stating, “Because of my family’s long-standing presence in the Meeker area, coupled with our past relationship with Pioneers Medical Center, we approached the hospital a couple of years ago to discuss the need to develop an outpatient addiction center to serve the immediate area. Our group was wanting to develop services with a hospital partner and initially contacted Pioneer. While we were optimistic this was going to occur after multiple meetings and trips to Meeker, the Board of Trustees ultimately opted to not pursue the development of this new service. Although the hospital elected not to participate as an investor, it did acknowledge the need for some level of service to cover the general region. They further indicated their enthusiastic support as a potential a member of a developing coalition to help support any services to address this regional epidemic, for which we are grateful. After Pioneers Medical Center elected to not partner in this endeavor, our group approached Memorial Regional Health in Craig about investing in the project. This rapidly culminated in approval by their Board of Trustees to participate in a public-private partnership to develop outpatient and sober living services in Craig.”
Pioneers Medical Center had not responded to a request for comment as of press time Wednesday.
Memorial Regional Health will invest approximately $502,000 during the next two years for the project, which will bring an in-patient and out-patient substance abuse treatment program to Craig, according to the Craig Press article.
