Brainerd chemical dependency center marks 25 years

One of the few Minnesota hospitals that still provides in-patient chemical dependency treatment marks the program's 25th anniversary today.

St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd will celebrate the occasion with a dinner tonight. The Hazeldon Foundation's William Cope Moyers, an author and former journalist, will speak.

Moyers has been a recovering alcoholic and drug addict for the past 15 years. He said he's a prime example of the fact that that addiction does not discriminate and recovery is possible.

"Unfortunately there are too many people in Brainerd, there are too many people in the Twin Cities who don't have access to treatment," Moyers said. "So they never experience the healing therapy and the recovery that is part of the story at St. Joe's Medical Center."

He said that St. Joseph's continual service for more than two decades is cause for celebration.

"Most people aren't aware that there are good avenues of treatment available in Brainerd," Moyers said. "So what I'm going to be doing is not just sharing my story, but the stories of so many people and so many families whose lives have been directly touched by the Focus Unit at St. Joe's Medical Center."

Officials at St. Joseph's Medical Center say 6,000 people have gone through chemical dependency treatment over the course of 25 years, and 3,000 families have also received services.