A recovering alcoholic who recently completed a stint at the Men’s Treatment Centre has added his voice to concerns over the way the facility is run.Mr B decided to speak out after hearing of the death of Christopher Spencer — a young heroin addict he shared a room with at the centre in mid-2012.Mr B recalled how he “felt like a prisoner” at the treatment facility where, he alleged, there was a lack of food and basic supplies and “no real curriculum in place”.Similar concerns were expressed last month by Lynn Spencer, mother of Mr Spencer, a former reporter at this newspaper who attended the centre for help with his dependence on heroin.He died aged 25 on October 27 from a suspected drug-induced heart attack.Ms Spencer, from Paget, spoke out after his death, saying that it takes too long for addicts to get appointments at the Bermuda Assessment Referral Centre (BARC) in order to get placed into drug treatment.She said when her son finally got into the Turning Point centre, he and his family encountered a “disregarding, condescending attitude”.And, she said, his experience at the Men’s Treatment Centre in St George’s was even worse.“There was nothing going on there,” she said. “It was just an excuse for Government to say we have a treatment centre. There were no strict rules.“Anyone, including residents, could just walk in and out. Security didn’t patrol at all; they just sat inside at a desk.”Ms Spencer made public extracts from the journal her son kept at the Men’s Treatment Centre public.In one entry, he wrote: “I am bored due to lack of physical and mental stimulation at the MTC. I am disappointed in the administration of MTC.“They say they are doing one thing and are doing another; the lack of accountability and consistency. I am frustrated with MTC and myself.”Another diary entry said: “Really hate this. Prison-like, disorganised, and non-therapeutic.“Constant fighting between clients and inconsistency from counsellors and staff. I spent the entire weekend watching television and eating terrible food.“There is no soap to wash the dishes and we are forced to use a bar of body soap to clean them. While I am trying to stay positive and optimistic, I am having trouble putting my faith into this place.”Mr B, 50, said when he read the newspaper article about Mr Spencer, it struck a chord with him and he got in touch with Ms Spencer to offer his condolences.“I felt the story when I read it. It hurt me to know that he had passed away.“When I first got to the Men’s Treatment Centre I had to share a room with him and he helped me to adjust as I had never been in a programme before and never been in jail. He was a good guy,” said Mr B, who asked to remain anonymous.“I agree with what he had to say. The impression I got was that he was not getting the help that was necessary.“It was somewhat unorganised and there was no real curriculum in place. We spent a lot of time doing chores and we were sitting around smoking cigarettes and there was too much idle time.“The one good thing was that we were in an environment where we could not use [drugs or alcohol] but the curriculum was not what you would expect.“The counsellors are people trying to do a job, but sometimes it felt like it was just a job opportunity for them. There needs to be a better curriculum.“I am grateful for the opportunities that a place like that can offer, but during the three months I spent there I don’t feel that it covered proper ground for me.”Echoing the entries in Mr Spencer’s journal, Mr B recalled how there was a shortage of soap and food at the centre.“A lot of times we had to eat the same thing for two weeks because food was running low. I didn’t think we were there to be punished. I thought we were there to be helped,” he said.“You couldn’t even get a newspaper and you were locked off from the world like a prisoner. I felt like a prisoner.“You couldn’t even see your parents as there are no visitors allowed. I would have thought it was good for you to have visitors who can help encourage you.”He added: “When I heard about Chris’s death, I called his mom to give my condolences and I let her know that he was speaking the truth.”Mr B has been out of the treatment centre for three months and is back at work, but admits he has “had my slip-ups”.He expressed disappointment with the follow-up care he has got from BARC in Hamilton and Turning Point in Devonshire.He explained that he is supposed to be in touch with BARC, but he has been “ringing and ringing” without anyone returning his calls.As for Turning Point, he said he has been going to meetings ever since he left the treatment centre, but was only assigned a counsellor three weeks ago.“It’s not being properly run,” he said. “There’s a lack of co-ordination and organisation.”Mr B said he was very reluctant to go public with his views, but decided it was important to highlight the situation.He also stressed: “You want the system to help you but you have to help yourself too. I’m not trying to blame them, but I am saying that they need a better structure.“If money’s being poured into these areas it needs to be utilised properly.”New Attorney General Mark Pettingill, who has responsibility for the Department of National Drug Control, said he was not aware of concerns about the conditions and curriculum at the Men’s Treatment Centre until this newspaper shared Mr B’s comments with him.“The things described are obviously concerning and any time that there are concerns raised with regards to the running of a facility that is so essential, it’s something that has to be taken on board and looked at,” he said.“We [the Government] are certainly not going to sit by and do nothing when informed of such reports. Of course it is something we will look into.”Mr B indicated he would be happy to share his concerns with the Minister directly — and Mr Pettingill said he would gladly discuss the matter further with him.Invited to comment on concerns over the treatment programmes, a Bermuda Hospitals Board spokeswoman said: “We have noted Mr B’s experience with regards to the coordination of his care and the follow up treatment he received at Turning Point.“As we do not know Mr B’s identity, we are unable to review his case. However, all Turning Point service users are interviewed by a counsellor upon intake into the programme.“Thereafter they are assigned a permanent counsellor, typically within one week. This assignment takes into account the service user’s specific clinical needs and current counsellor case load allocations.“We remain committed to providing a high quality, effective service to assist people in Bermuda recover from substance abuse.”Offering “sincerest condolences”, a spokesman for the Department for National Drug Control added: “It is with sadness that we acknowledge the fact that another life has been lost to the disease of addiction.”He said: “Treatment at the Men’s Treatment Centre is provided in a safe, therapeutic environment that is not set up to lock anyone in. All clients have the right and the ability to leave whenever they choose; some leave against the advice of the treatment team.“There are no security guards on staff, only addiction counsellors and support staff who work in shifts spanning 24 hours daily. Clients participate in treatment groups and educational sessions daily and individual counselling sessions several times a week. Most evenings, clients participate in recreational activities and relaxation. Work-book assignments are sometimes given by the client’s primary counsellor to address individual issues. All client activities are documented in each client’s file and progress notes daily.”Men’s Treatment is staffed by internationally certified counsellors, he said, although the post of Addiction Counsellor Technician is currently vacant.“There are policies and procedures in place at the Men’s Treatment Centre to control contraband from entering the facility. However as noted, sometimes persons choose to ignore the rules and sometimes succeed. There would have been no reason for anyone to sneak groceries through a window as clients are provided with three healthy meals a day plus snacks free of charge and family members are allowed to provide supplies to their loved ones using the established procedures.”He said the Department was currently updating the treatment and prevention agencies directory first made public in 2009.The revised directory will be posted publicly and online this year.“We acknowledge that there is always room for improvement, and public communication activities specifically aimed at highlighting the treatment agencies have already been identified for implementation as we move forward,” he added.Useful website: www.dndc.gov.bm.