Salvation Army treats Anchorage alcoholics

ANCHORAGE - The Salvation Army in Anchorage is holding a grand opening Wednesday for its special treatment unit for public alcoholics.

People can be committed to the Clithero Center for an initial period of 48 hours and then up to 30 days or longer at the discretion of a judge. The center started taking people last summer.

The involuntary commitments are an attempt to prevent the deaths of homeless alcoholics in Anchorage.

The Salvation Army says there are about 400 chronic public inebriates in the city, but about 10 percent account for 90 percent of the public costs.