Retraining of drug addicts

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 6

Retraining of drug addicts

Retraining schemes for drug addicts and drop-outs from society formed an important part of Salvation Army work in New York, said Mrs R. E. Holz, a prominent member of the army. Mrs Holz, the Territorial League of Mercy secretary for 11 eastern states in the United States was in Christchurch yesterday with her husband, Lieutenant-Colonel R. E. Holz. Wayside Homes, which catered for girls who had become entangled with the law, were other centres where professional retraining was given, said Mrs Holz. In her role as secretary Mrs Holz said her job is an executive one, co-ordinating, supervising and guiding the divisional secretaries. "My job is to implement the aims and principles of the army. “The League of Mercy deals in visiting nursing homes, hospitals, both public and private, and veterans’ hospitals. “At Elmhurst Long Island Hospital our girls have done some great work with

patients that had not responded to professional psychiatric help,” she said. Afterwards some of the patients really opened up and responded well to professional help, said Mrs Holz. In the veterans hospitals much emphasis was put on the period between discharge of the patient and the taking up of his old life.