ORANJESTAD, Aruba – Centro Colorado Reports Strong Recovery as Stichting HUNTO says the rehabilitation center is progressing well, expanding its programs and helping more people work toward recovery from addiction in Aruba.
During an interview with DIARIO, Dr. Randall van Trigt, financial director of Stichting HUNTO, said Centro Colorado is performing positively and that the organization continues working to strengthen and expand its rehabilitation programs.
Van Trigt explained that one of the most important elements in addiction treatment is keeping clients actively engaged. According to him, people in rehabilitation should not remain inactive, because structured activities can play an important role in their recovery process. However, he also noted that maintaining these programs requires significant financial resources.
Centro Colorado currently has approximately 20 clients, which Van Trigt described as the maximum number the center can responsibly accommodate with its present staffing levels. Although the facility itself can reportedly hold up to 48 people, the available staff is sufficient to properly supervise only around 20 to slightly more than 20 clients.
He emphasized that the organization does not want to increase the number of residents beyond what staff can safely manage. According to Van Trigt, proper supervision is especially important because the center must maintain a safe environment for all residents, including women receiving treatment.
He said that even though no serious incident has occurred, management does not want to wait until a problem arises before ensuring that staffing and supervision standards are adequate.
Centro Colorado Reports Strong Recovery among many of the people who have received treatment there. Van Trigt said that addiction recovery at Centro Colorado did not begin only after Stichting HUNTO became involved. Even during earlier periods, when conditions at the center were considerably more difficult, people were still able to successfully recover.
He argued that the public often sees people struggling with addiction on the streets and may conclude that rehabilitation institutions are not producing results. However, Van Trigt said many people have successfully completed rehabilitation programs and reintegrated into society, even though those success stories may be less visible.
According to him, the number of people recovering has increased significantly during the last three years.
Van Trigt also pointed to a wider challenge facing Aruba: the growing connection between addiction and mental health problems. He said mental health issues are developing faster than available solutions, contributing to the number of people who fall into substance dependency.
The statement highlights the importance of treating addiction not only as an issue of substance use but also as a broader health and social challenge that may be connected to psychological and emotional difficulties.
Stichting HUNTO continues working to expand the services offered at Centro Colorado while maintaining a level of care that matches available staff and resources.
The organization’s focus remains on rehabilitation, structured daily activities and creating an environment where clients can work toward long-term recovery.
Van Trigt’s comments also underline the need for continued investment in addiction treatment and mental health support in Aruba, particularly as demand for these services continues to grow.
