November 30, 2007

MGH gift helps Charlestown residents battling addictions

The Charlestown community soon will have a safe place for men to recover from addictions to alcohol and other drugs. With a $2 million gift from the MGH, the hospital has joined local residents in the construction of the Charlestown Recovery House, a 25-bed facility for men in the early stages of recovery. Slated to open in 2008, the recovery house is one part of a MGH-sponsored, community-led effort to end substance abuse in Charlestown. Above from left, Slavin and Menino

On Oct. 3, Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, joined Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino for the facility's groundbreaking. Other special guests in attendance included Joan Quinlan, director of MGH Community Benefit; Lorenzo Lewis, MD, medical director of the MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center; and
Matt Fishman, vice president for Community Health for Partners HealthCare.

"The Charlestown Recovery House has both symbolic and real importance to this community, which has worked tirelessly to prevent substance abuse through the Charlestown Substance Abuse Coalition," says Slavin. "For Charlestown residents, this house is a symbol of hope for the future of the community and faith in our ability to work together to solve very challenging problems."