AARS Expansion

AARS Expansion

Contributed by Alaska Addition Rehabilitation Services

Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (AARS) has long been a beacon of hope for adults grappling with substance use disorder (SUD) in the Mat-Su Valley – as well as the entire state.
Since 1982, AARS has helped more than 3,300 addicts and alcoholics find recovery and has been at the forefront of serving adults struggling with SUD through its high-quality, clinically managed residential treatment facility. As one of the state’s longest running treatment programs, AARS currently houses up to 26 residential clients, as well as ten outpatient clients who reside in nearby transitional homes.

Clients at AARS receive a combination of evidence-based practices, 12-step recovery, and counselor led sessions along with managed work therapy and vocational opportunities at its 116 acres of working farm—Nugen’s Ranch. With an average treatment stay of nine to 12 months, clients accepted into AARS can expect nothing short of a life change. But for those looking to get help, finding them a treatment bed has become increasingly difficult.
AARS receives more than 300 statewide referrals a year for levels 3.5 and 3.1 treatment and can treat roughly 40 residential clients a year. However, as alcoholism and addiction in Alaska continues to grow, so does the organization’s waiting list.
“The hardest part of my job is telling someone who is ready to receive help that we don’t have a bed for them,” said Bryan Brandenburg, Executive Director of AARS. “So, we made the decision to expand and give more people an opportunity to recover.”

In 2022, AARS’ Board of Directors contracted ECI Architects to design an additional 26-bed facility (for a total of 52 beds), including additional staff offices, a community center and gym, with extended parking areas. The total cost of AARS’ Expansion Project is roughly $28 million.
In March, AARS was awarded a $3 million appropriation from U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski to aid in the organization’s expansion efforts of their facility on Point Mackenzie.
“These funds will allow us to begin our expansion efforts and open the door for more funding,” said Bryan Brandenburg, Executive Director of AARS. “Our number one priority remains assisting even more Alaskans living with SUD. These funds bring us one step closer to achieving this goal.”

The $3 million appropriation from U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski will pay for Phase I of AARS’ Expansion Project, covering the cost of site preparation and design services, construction administration, and initial contractual services. Execution of Phase I is expected this Fall. Brandenburg said that Phase II of AARS’ Expansion Project will cost $14 million and includes the actual construction of its new facility. This year, AARS’ leadership team has made several trips to Juneau to work with Alaska’s legislators, including members of the Mat-Su delegation, on funding Phase II through the upcoming Capital budget.

“We hope these funds pass through the Capital budget and our legislators see the importance of the work we are doing,” said Brandenburg. “The more we do as a community to battle SUD, the better future we will have for Alaska.” Brandenburg said that by improving access to treatment, more individuals can begin their journey to recovery sooner, reducing the long-term health, social, and economic impacts of substance use disorders. Early and accessible intervention can decrease the incidence of overdose deaths, reduce transmission rates of infectious diseases associated with drug use, and lessen the burden on the criminal justice system.
“Expanding services would also contribute to destigmatizing addiction in the community,” he said. “By providing more accessible and culturally sensitive treatment options, the message is clear: addiction is a health issue that deserves compassionate, professional care, not moral judgment.”

For Alaskans living with substance use disorder, the expansion of services at AARS is not just important—it is essential. It represents a path to recovery that acknowledges and respects the unique challenges faced by individuals in this vast and diverse state. Through expanded access to comprehensive, culturally sensitive care, AARS can better serve its community, offering hope and healing to those in need.

AARS is hosting their annual Fun Day event from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday, June 1. This event invites the community to its Point Mackenzie property for a free BBQ, activities for the entire family, produce and flower sales, farm tours and this year’s Fun Day Raffle drawing.
“We hope community members join us for a day of celebrating recovery, and the work our staff and clients do on a daily basis,” Brandenburg said.

For more information on AARS and its treatment services, Fun Day, the purchase of Fun Day raffle tickets and merchandise, visit aarsrecovery.org.