Worcester addiction treatment firm Spectrum Health Systems has created a new position to oversee adolescent addiction services and is promoting a longtime employee to the job.
Mark Brown, formerly the director of Youth Services and Peer Recovery, will become the executive director of Adolescent and Peer Services. Brown has been with Spectrum for 22 years, running various programs for at-risk youth with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services.
Currently, Brown oversees two residential substance abuse disorder treatment programs for young men and a short-term detention program for adolescent girls.
Now, he’ll oversee the organization’s residential adolescent programs and three peer recovery centers for adults in Worcester, Marlborough and Lawrence.
In a statement, Chief Operating Officer Sherry Ellis said Brown has been essential to the development of Spectrum’s adolescent programs.
“As the issue of adolescent substance use continues to grow, Spectrum is dedicated to teaching youth the skills necessary to maintain drug-free, pro-social lifestyles,” Ellis said. “Mark has evolved into this role over the years and we are confident that these programs are in the best possible hands under his leadership.”
