The Italian city of Lecce is found in the heel of the boot of the Italian peninsula, situated on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. This city of 92,000 people enjoys ideal Mediterranean weather throughout the year, and boasts a history dating back more than two millennia. Originally founded by an ancient people known as the Messapii, it was later conquered in the 3rd century B.C. by the Romans. The city has rich cultural traditions, with many ornately decorated Baroque period buildings that have given rise to a reputation as the “Florence of the South.” More recently, however, Lecce has experienced serious problems with drug abuse. The city is only one of many in Southern Italy to be struggling with drugs. For example, it was reported in 2008 that in Calabria, the region that forms the toe of the heel, 3,500 Italians received treatment for drug addiction, and that nearly 85% of these were hooked on heroin. The fact that drugs are so widespread in the region is not surprising, given the control that the Mafia exerts over the area. In addition to the many people who received treatment in the region, many more continue to struggle through their lives while coping with their addiction. It is in this environment that the Narconon Gabbiano center has been operating since it opened its doors 25 years ago.
Illustrious Guests Mark Notable Occasion
Narconon Gabbiano celebrated its 25th anniversary on July 14th of this year, at an event that was attended by more than 200 people. The center is housed in a former hotel, a location with numerous recreational amenities and surrounded by grounds including a beautiful garden. The guests who gathered at this site included staff of the center as well as program graduates, family members and representatives from the local police force. Even the mayor showed up, along with many other friends and supporters from the community. During the event, those assembled celebrated the fact that Narconon Gabbiano has salvaged more than 1,000 people who came to the center for help with overcoming their problems with addiction. These people not only were able to get clean and sober, they were able to avoid the many ramifications of drug use, including ruined careers, spoiled relationships and the threat of incarceration, illness or death from drug use. For every one of the thousand recovered addicts, there are many more friends and family who were spared the pain of losing a loved one to the dwindling spiral of drug use, and others who were given hope that they too could overcome their own struggles with addiction.
Recognizing Close Ties with the Community
For many years, the Narconon Gabbiano center has enjoyed the support of the local police and the municipal government, a fact that was reflected by the attendance at the event of the mayor, city officials and the commander of the local police force. All of these individuals attended a private buffet in the dining room. Following the meal, the mayor delivered a speech to the audience, acknowledging what a tremendous the Narconon center is to the community and citing how the center has formed close ties with the city government in tackling the scourge of drugs locally. The Narconon staff also presented a plaque to the police commander in appreciation of his work and cooperation. Ugo Ferrando, the president of Narconon Southern Europe recognized the efforts of the staff, highlighting the fact that many of them stay on for years at a time in their dedication to the work that they do. In his words, “It takes enormous courage to love an addict and to assist him hour after hour, day after day, until the end of the program. When a person completes the Narconon program, he leaves here with a heart full of gratitude for all the people who give life to Narconon Gabbiano.” After all of these proceedings, the guests enjoyed a delicious Italian meal, followed by cake, a group photograph and an extended ovation in celebration of the past 25 years at Narconon Gabbiano.
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