It was founded with support from guitarist and singer Eric Clapton in 1998. He has been assisting with its funding by organising the annual Crossroads Guitar Festival since 1999.
History
The centre was founded by guitarist Eric Clapton and Richard Conte, CEO of The Priory Hospitals Group (London), and Transitional Hospitals Corporation (Nevada). All development of the facility was performed by officers and employees of these two companies. Conte and Clapton served as the centre's first two board members, with Conte being chairman. Transitional put up all working capital during the development phase and the facility was initially owned two-thirds by Transitional and one-third by Clapton. Former prime minister Lester Bird of Antigua was integrally involved with Transitional and arranged for the government of Antigua's assistance with roads, utilities and a favourable land purchase price. Conte's wife is credited with naming the facility; his associate Lester Keizer of Transitional was the 'point man' on the project.
Location and description
The Crossroads Centre is located on the island of Antigua.[3] It is a drug and alcohol treatment centre which has a 36-bed design.[1] It opened in 1998.[3] Crossroads have local offices across a few countries: Madrid (Spain), "Crossroads Antigua: Office in Stockholm". (Sweden), London (UK), Ottawa (Canada), New York (USA), Lakeville (USA)
Crossroads is the only drug rehabilitation program on the island of 80,000 people.[2] At a time when drug trafficking and addiction rates have been rising in the Caribbean, the facility will treat locals at low cost.[1] Clapton's target is to have one-third of the beds reserved for permanent residents of the Caribbean islands. As of 2013[update] about 15 percent of the beds go to poor people from Antigua and Barbuda.[2]
