Longtime chief physician and prominent addiction specialist Jānis Strazdiņš has died at the age of 84, according to his family. Strazdiņš directed the Straupe Addiction Hospital and maintained an active medical practice from his home until the spring, navigating significant health challenges that began in September, his daughter Ieva Galvāne told the magazine Privātā Dzīve.
Health Struggles and Final Months at Home
According to Galvāne, her father’s final year involved severe medical hurdles, including a month-long hospital stay, major surgery, back complications, and a stroke. Despite using a wheelchair, Strazdiņš continued treating patients at his home until the spring, a testament to his high demand in the field.
Days before his death, Strazdiņš sat at a table and engaged in an extensive conversation with his daughter about history, drawing on his deep reading habits and interest in historical films. He passed away at his Mežaparka home, where he lived alongside his wife, Dace.
Pioneering Addiction Treatment in Latvia
Strazdiņš served as the chief physician of the Straupe Addiction Hospital, where former colleagues and family note he developed a reputation for deep empathy and intelligent dialogue with patients recovering from substance use. According to Galvāne, her father avoided scare tactics, preferring thoughtful conversations about alcohol and drug problems.
At a farewell ceremony, former Welfare Minister and long-time colleague Viktors Jaksons stated that Strazdiņš earned widespread respect from patients, hospital administration, and government ministries. Jaksons noted that the doctor utilized every available avenue to advance Latvian narcology, championing a Western-oriented approach centered on lifestyle shifts alongside medical treatment and supporting the Anonymous Alcoholics movement.
Did you know? Strazdiņš and his wife Dace, an art historian, involved patients—including notable actors and athletes being treated for alcohol dependency—in the labor therapy restoration of the Straupe castle and church.
Legacy of Craftsmanship and Music
Beyond his medical career, Strazdiņš built his family home in Skulte with his own hands, beginning in 1973 when he was allotted the land. Galvāne recalled that her father spent every vacation until the mid-1980s pouring concrete and digging foundations for the house, which the family still visits.
Raised in a musical household, Strazdiņš was an avid dancer who traditionally partnered with colleagues at physicians’ balls and later participated in the Latvian Radio 2 project Jāņi dzied. In accordance with family wishes, his final resting place will be in Dzērbene, his wife Dace’s home region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Jānis Strazdiņš’s professional role?
He was a prominent Latvian narcologist and served as the chief physician of the Straupe Addiction Hospital.
Where did Strazdiņš spend his final years?
Where will the physician be laid to rest?
His family has chosen Dzērbene, his wife Dace’s home region, as his final resting place.
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