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By Tiffany Goodwein

$10 million investment

Province announces funding for two addiction recovery communities in Lethbridge County, Blood Tribe First Nation

Jul 25, 2020 | 12:53 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Two new recovery communities, aimed at supporting those suffering from addiction will be built in Lethbridge County and the Blood Tribe First Nation.

The province will be supplying $10- million for the two recovery communities that will add 125 long-term residential addiction treatment beds to the region.

The province made the funding announcement Saturday.

“This is a historic expansion of recovery-oriented services for people suffering from addiction in southern Alberta. Not only are we creating jobs by investing in key infrastructure projects as part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, but we are continuing to expand access to treatment and recovery for everybody in Alberta,” Premier Jason Kenney said in a press release statement.

In addition to the 125 long-term residential addiction treatment beds, 16 new publically-funded medical detox and transition beds will be added at the Foothills Centre in Fort Macleod. Another 15 medical detox and transition beds will be implemented in Lethbridge to increase support for those struggling with addiction.

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“The Government of Alberta has committed to an investment to support those with addictions and social issues in Lethbridge and southern Alberta. The impact of addictions has had devastating effects in our community and this crucial announcement will help those affected by addiction access the treatment and recovery they need,” Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman said in a press release statement.

According to the province, the two recovery communities are among five that are being built province-wide.

The recovery communities emphasize recovery as a “gradual, ongoing process of cognitive change through clinical and peer interventions.

The announcement of the new recovery communities in Lethbridge comes nearly a week after the province pulled funding ARCHES, a safe injection facility in the city after a government audit discovered financial mismanagement. Approximately $1.6 million in public money was found unaccounted for.

With files from Lethbridge News Now.