SurreyB次元官网网址檚 John Volken built a micro-community within the heart of Surrey thatB次元官网网址檚 run by people recovering from addiction, but what keeps the societyB次元官网网址檚 executive officer awake at night is knowing that, even though the province is seeing a record-breaking number of overdose deaths, the society has dozens of empty beds.
Unlike short-term recovery, the B次元官网网址渟tudentsB次元官网网址� of the John Volken Academy sign up for a two-year residential treatment program. Volken described many of the students as young adults who have tried a number of rehabilitation programs before, but ended up relapsing.
B次元官网网址淲e have empty beds and we want to help,B次元官网网址滱cademy chief executive officer Steve Whiteside told Peace Arch B次元官网网址 after giving a tour of the facility last month.
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One of the challenges with reaching new students B次元官网网址� which comes with a one-time cost of $5,000 B次元官网网址� is a lack of communication, Whiteside said, who was careful not to blame any organization or governmental arm for the concern.
B次元官网网址淚 believe thereB次元官网网址檚 people on the streets who want our services and need them, but they just donB次元官网网址檛 know about us,B次元官网网址� Whiteside said. B次元官网网址淚f we could work more with all stakeholders together B次元官网网址� and again, no oneB次元官网网址檚 fault B次元官网网址� but if we could work more with the detox places, work more with government, if we could work more with the 30-day programsB次元官网网址次元官网网址�
Whiteside said itB次元官网网址檚 not that referral programs wonB次元官网网址檛 send people to the Academy, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just that we donB次元官网网址檛 have great communication.
B次元官网网址淪o when I see the overdoses, I just find it extremely sad to see open beds,B次元官网网址� he said.
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After selling his United Furniture Brand in 2004, Volken began purchasing commercial and residential properties near 6911 King George Blvd.
Today, Volken essentially owns the city block, which he transformed into a therapeutic community that gives people who are recovering from drug use a place to play, work, sleep, learn and heal.
Aside from the businesses B次元官网网址� where some of the students workB次元官网网址� the property includes a library, gymnasium, workout space, theatre, computer room, kitchen, presentation room, medical office, therapy rooms, cafeteria, game room and meditation garden.
Volken and Whiteside said the purpose of the academy was to create an environment designed to give people with addictions the time for their brain to heal itself in the absence of drug use. As the brain is healing, the programs are designed to teach emotional and behaviour self-regulation and important life-skills and a work ethic.
One of the ways they do this, Volken explained, is by introducing stress into the students lives and then giving them an opportunity to discuss it openly in B次元官网网址渆ncounter groupsB次元官网网址� of up to 20 students.
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B次元官网网址淪ometimes encounter groups are pretty basic, pretty boring sometimes,B次元官网网址� said Volken, who at times participates in the discussions. B次元官网网址淪ometimes they are intense, you feel like you can cut the air into pieces. And there are tears, and there are breakthroughsB次元官网网址� The students cry for the first time because their feelings have been numbed over the years.B次元官网网址�
What makes the encounter groups different from other group therapies is that after the twice-weekly sessions, students go back to living and working with each other.
B次元官网网址淲hen people are out (on the streets), theyB次元官网网址檙e being judged. And because theyB次元官网网址檙e being judged, they manipulate. They lie about themselves, and that by itself is toxic. Now when they come here, we tell them from day one that keeping secrets keeps you sick. They have to learn to trust each other and they do,B次元官网网址� Volken said.
An example of a breakthrough at the encounter group, chairwomen of the AcademyB次元官网网址檚 board of directors Susan Richards de Wit said, was when one of the students asked Volken if he remembered an incident when somebody broke a window at the Academy and stole a number of televisions.
The student confessed to the crime during a encounter group session, and VolkenB次元官网网址檚 reaction was to stand up and give the man a hug.
B次元官网网址淛ust imagine, bottling up all of the feelings they had about themselves and others. Here, itB次元官网网址檚 our aim to let go,B次元官网网址� Volken said, adding that the students learn to be forgiven, and also to forgive.
The students live in houses or condominiums on the property and work at the PricePro Grocery and Furniture Store. Volken lives in an apartment above the grocery store.
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One of the reasons behind a two-year program, Volken said, is that it takes time for the brain to heal.
But it also takes time to teach the tools necessary to handle stress, to provide education and career training.
At the end of the program, students graduate and have the skills to move on. Others, Whiteside said, choose to stay.
VolkenB次元官网网址檚 foundation, which has put more than $80 million into the Surrey academy, is currently building a farm in Langley that is to offer another therapeutic opportunity for the students.
B次元官网网址淵ou know, if all the money we spend, if we just save one life, it would be very frustrating,B次元官网网址� Volken said.
B次元官网网址淏ut worth it,B次元官网网址� Richards de Wit added.
More information on the academy can be found at
