| Crossroads Centre | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Collins, Saint Philip,Antigua and Barbuda |
| Organisation | |
| Patron | Eric Clapton Richard Conte |
| Services | |
| Beds | 36[1][2] |
| History | |
| Founded | 1998[1] |
TheCrossroads Centre is asubstance-abuse rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol addiction located nearSt. Philip's, Antigua on the shores ofWilloughby Bay.
It was founded with support from guitarist and singerEric Clapton in 1998. He has been assisting with its funding by organising the annualCrossroads Guitar Festival since 1999.
The centre was founded by guitaristEric Clapton and Richard Conte, CEO ofThe Priory Hospitals Group (London), and Transitional Hospitals Corporation (Nevada). All development of the facility was performed by officers and employees of these two companies. Conte and Clapton served as the centre's first two board members, with Conte being chairman. Transitional put up all working capital during the development phase and the facility was initially owned two-thirds by Transitional and one-third by Clapton. Former prime ministerLester Bird of Antigua was integrally involved with Transitional and arranged for the government of Antigua's assistance with roads, utilities and a favourable land purchase price. Conte's wife is credited with naming the facility; his associate Lester Keizer of Transitional was the 'point man' on the project.
The Crossroads Centre is located in a remote part ofCollins, Antigua, just to the south ofSt. Philip's town.[3] It is a drug and alcohol treatment centre which has a 36-bed design.[1] It opened in 1998.[3] Crossroads have local offices across a few countries: Madrid (Spain),"Crossroads Antigua: Office in Stockholm". (Sweden), London (UK), Ottawa (Canada), New York (USA), Lakeville (USA)
Crossroads Centre is a structured residential program which follows a12-step approach modeled after theBetty Ford Center andAlcoholics Anonymous.[3] As of 2013[update] the facility has 36 beds.[2]
Crossroads is the only drug rehabilitation program on the island of 80,000 people.[2] At a time when drug trafficking and addiction rates have been rising in the Caribbean, the facility will treat locals at low cost.[1] Clapton's target is to have one-third of the beds reserved for permanent residents of the Caribbean islands. As of 2013[update] about 15 percent of the beds go to poor people from Antigua and Barbuda.[2]
Eric Clapton personally organises theCrossroads Guitar Festival since 1999, with guests such asAlbert Lee,B.B. King,Jeff Beck,Keith Richards,Keith Urban,Robbie Robertson andRobert Cray among many others. The 2013 two-day event atMadison Square Garden was the fifth such benefit concert. Also supported are twohalfway houses for recovering addicts, on Antigua for local residents, and inDelray Beach, Florida, for others.[2]
Parish ofSaint Philip | ||
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| Populated places | ||
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| History and culture | ||
| Landmarks and tourism | ||
17°02′20″N61°43′33″W / 17.0390°N 61.7258°W /17.0390; -61.7258
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