The Haunting Abandoned Island In The Middle Of NYC

Drugs Were Still a Major Problem on the Island

With the new buildings in place, the founders of the rehab program were very optimistic about the effectiveness of treatment. Unfortunately, relapse rates were extremely high and patients were using drugs on the island and inside of the very hospital where they were being treated.

There are numerous reports of people traveling to the island in the middle of the night to smuggle in drugs for their friends and significant others in rehab. There were also accounts of orderlies sneaking heroin in on the ferries in exchange for cigarettes. There were also various accounts of sexual and physical abuse on and by the patients. For this reason, Riverside was shuttered completely.