For many years I have visited Antigua, the beautiful Caribbean island located in the heart of the West Indies. Antigua has always been a special refuge – a safe place, a serene place where one can begin the process of healing from even the most devastating events and life situations.
As a recovering addict and alcoholic, many people over the years spoke with me about the problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse on the island. Subsequently, around 1993, I began to speak with more and more people about the possibility of founding a Centre on the island for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. There was certainly a need, and so the dream and the vision were born.
My vision was to create a Centre of the highest caliber to treat people of the Caribbean and throughout the world. The Centre would be staffed with experienced and internationally recognized professionals. The cost of treatment would be held to the lowest possible level, ensuring affordability and accessibility. And most importantly, this non-profit Centre would provide treatment scholarships for people of the Caribbean region and around the world.
Well, this vision became a reality and Crossroads opened its doors to the world in 1998. Since then it has quickly developed into an internationally recognized Treatment Centre of Excellence, providing services to individuals and their families suffering from the devastating effects of addiction.
Crossroads is like no other Treatment Centre. It is the perfect place to begin the road of recovery and utilizes a combination of effective therapies to address addiction and recovery, while capturing the spiritual serenity that many have found unique to Antigua. Within the serene, healing atmosphere individuals participate in a structured residential 12 step based program that allows clients to experience a whole person wellness approach to recovery.
We believe that the majority of individuals suffering from addiction have the capacity for recovery if given the proper foundation to begin their journey. At Crossroads we help provide that foundation.
Sincerely,
Eric Clapton
Donna J Manzi says:
I am a little sister to 2 brothers – 10 years older than me. Both of my brothers drank their entire lives. One brother – a quiet Vietnam vet, drank quietly; so I didn’t even know he was an alcoholic. My oldest brother, Patrick, was the “John Belushi” type. He was so funny, teetering on genius; someone to remember. Patrick became a raging alcoholic and ended up popping too much oral morphine before he left our world. One of my best friends was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. Anyone reading this will know this habit was fun at first and then resided as an enemy when least expected. These 3 people are close to me; so I’ve seen the toll their behavior took on their families, work and friends. I recently saw the Richard Burton you tube interview with David Frost. It haunts me. I wonder if I have this gene with only a better disguise. My brother Pat grew up in the 60s, was drafted, put himself through college, loved Rock & Roll and debbled in guitar. He loved Cream and Clapton, and taught me to love Rock as well. I had heard about Crossroads when my brother was in the thick of a spiral downward in the late 90s into the early millenium. I felt it would be unattainable for him to go there – or that he was such an alcoholic – maybe he rejected. I know now, that I didn’t know enough about alcoholism. My brothers and now one of my best friends are dealing with major repercussions. Sometimes I feel helpless that I could not help more; I was just living my life when they were living theirs. I am no stranger to you, Eric Clapton. As a person close to an alcoholic, I WISHED for my brother to find inside him the strength to beat his demons. I knew someone like you and wish everyday he was in my life. Now I have the same wishes for my friend who I had to rush to the hospital 6 months ago after throwing up blood; popped varices due to ascites. She has 2 beautiful daughters and is only 54. Longest night of my life. Now when I drink – its scary – not the same at all. And if I dont catch myself, I almost want to tread on their road. My theory of them and I is that there is a void inside and it just can’t be filled. I just wish I sent my brother Patrick there. I will always wish I had. You would’ve loved him. I have always wanted to write you this note – and i’m sure this will fall into an admins hand (i’m an admin myself) I just wanted to say I saw your documentary 5 times and my FAVORITE PART OF ALL – is when your beautiful family – is with you. I am happy that you lived long enough to find that unconditional love – which is the ultimate void filler. Keep up the good work. It matters. God bless those with these problems and, like me, the people who love those people. It aint easy. Peace! Namaste.
Dr. Sandra Caramela-Miller says:
Hello Donna and peace to you…I do wish peace finds you as I read your heart break and paining. Many loved ones and survivors seem to glance back as if they held some magic power to place those closest to their hearts into rehab because of happening onto a fantastic place, such as Crossroads. And yet, that is not quite how it works, usually. There are many antecedents followed by consequences emanating from more than one direction which have to intersect at the precise moment in time. And then, the person who is suffering most, the addicted one, may traverse the necessary steps to open their minds to the experiences required to attain and maintain their sobriety. As you know, none of this is easily accomplished and for some, it is easier to stay in the charge of the drug.
There must always be hope, and obstacles removed in the way-finding. And, it does seem the founder with his own set of his-stories found a way to remove many of those obstacles. I have provided many counseling sessions to survivors who lost their loved ones to sudden deaths through addictions. Often, it would come up if they would have known they would have scooped their loved one up and taken them off to a beautiful island setting, perhaps, they would still be here. And, although I have not visited Antigua or this facility, I likely will someday. For now, know there are many who share some aspects of your story and can identify with the many different trajectories of emotions which exist with you as you sojourn on without your brother and vicariously watch your friend spiraling. I wish for you a finding in this vast universe which provides that unconditional positive regard, leading to love of one’s self. Know you do not ever walk alone…may great thoughts of peace be with your every step.