It has walk-in wardrobes, polished wooden floors and tasteful soft furnishings. To the casual observer, Marlborough Gardens looks like any other comfortable Bermudian home.

But resting above the fireplace in one of the living rooms is a less common sight — printed sheets detailing the twelve steps of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Yesterday, Bermuda's first transitional living centre for recovering female drug addicts was officially opened in Southampton. And those who have worked for the last four years to make it a reality said it marked a major step forward for the long-term treatment of female drug addicts on the Island.

Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler told those gathered at yesterday's ceremony that he was pleased and proud his Ministry had "achieved this milestone of providing transitional living and supportive community living to our women in treatment".

The $350,000 Marlborough Gardens facility will be used to house eight or nine women who have already undergone an intensive year-long course for substance or alcohol abuse at the Women's Treatment Centre in Devonshire.

Caron Assan, director of the department for National Drug Control, said the women living there would be gradually eased back into society in a less structured environment, with no one able to stay for more than two years.

"No one will be here for the rest of their lives," she said. "The absolute maximum is two years but you have to remember that people are at various stages of recovery.

"It will also be based on their ability to obtain housing on the outside. We will be working with them very closely on these issues."

The Southampton property — the exact location of which cannot be disclosed for safety reasons — has been rented out to Government by the Harvey family, who were praised yesterday for their generosity and community spirit.

It has taken a year to renovate and now features several shared bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms plus a self-contained one-bedroom unit for the resident doing best in her recovery. Residents living there will be expected to find paid or volunteer work and will manage the home themselves, with support from staff from Ms Assan's department.

Emphasis will be placed on meditation, reflection and exercise with the ultimate goal of each woman returning to an independent life.

"This is the first of its kind for women," said Ms Assan. "We have been striving for this for the last four years."

Premier Ewart Brown, who along with Mr. Butler and Deputy Premier Paula Cox cut the ribbon on the property, said: "Years ago, I worked in drug recovery in another place. I have a personal understanding of the challenges that are faced both by those who are trying to recover and those trying to direct the recovery. It's not an easy struggle."

He said recovering addicts were often doomed to fail if they were dropped after treatment back into the environment they had come from.

"Transition is important. As one who believes in the boundless capacity of humans, I encourage all of us to support this centre and make it the place it is supposed to be — a place that gives humans the opportunity to thrive."