Alaska Regional Hospital hopes a hospital bed and caring staff will help cut down on the state’s substance abuse problem, which has been blamed for a spike in crime around Anchorage.
“And this is an extremely non-judgmental environment. You come here for us to take care of you and we don’t care about your past. We don’t have to. We here to take care of you and love you in the moment,” said Alaska Regional Hospital nurse manager Mandy Mitchell.
Mitchell is part of a new medical service called “One-Eighty,” signifying a 180-degree turn toward a better life. The service includes admitting people to the hospital who are withdrawing on prescription drugs, heroin, alcohol or other substances.
“And we will tightly monitor and treat the symptoms that you go through when you withdraw from substances,” said Mitchell. Read more here.