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By Tiffany Goodwein

Province announces thousands of addiction recovery spaces

Dec 5, 2021 | 6:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB– Medicine Hat is one of a number of Alberta cities that will see more
funding for addictions treatment beds.

In a weekend press release, the province announced McMan Youth and Family Community Association, South Region, which includes Lethbridge and Medicine Hat will receive up to 65 newly funded treatment spaces.

The province said it is all part of their plan to double their original commitment made back in 2019 of 4000 new treatment beds province-wide.

“This means 8,000 Albertans will now have the opportunity to seek treatment and enter recovery every year without having to pay privately for life-saving services. Treatment works and recovery is possible. This is a key promise made, promise kept,” stated premier Jason Kenney.

The elimination of user fees means publicly funded addiction treatment means it is completely free for any Albertan. Previously, according to the province, those wanting to access treatment were charged $40 per day, something the province said was a financial barrier for many.

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“We have heard for years that the addiction care system is broken. When we came into office Albertans were having to decide between selling their car and remortgaging their home to access life-saving treatment and recovery services. This was completely unacceptable. Our government is doing the hard work of building an accessible system for the future. Recovery is possible, and the opportunity to pursue recovery is something every Albertan deserves,” stated Mike Ellis, minister of mental health and addictions.

The publically-funded residential treatment and recovery programs help individuals improve all aspects of life that support long-term recovery. The province said that involves improving physical and mental health, family and community connections, employment skills, and housing stability.

The newly funded treatment spaces available to Albertans include up to:

• 2,184 spaces annually at Alpha House Society, Calgary (detox)
• 223 spaces annually at Calgary Dream Centre, Calgary
• 199 spaces annually at Recovery Acres Society, Calgary
• 195 spaces annually at Simon House Recovery Centre, Calgary
• 78 spaces annually at Alcove Addiction Recovery for Women, Calgary
• 43 spaces annually at Aventa Centre of Excellence for Women with Addictions, Calgary
• 68 spaces annually at Jellinek Society, Edmonton
• 31 spaces annually at Our House Addiction Recovery Centre, Edmonton
• 22 spaces annually at Salvation Army Edmonton, Edmonton
• 20 spaces annually at Recovery Acres Society Edmonton
• 6 spaces annually at McDougall House Association, Edmonton
• 65 spaces annually at McMan Youth, Family and Community Association – South Region, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat
• 48 spaces annually at Alpha House Society, Lethbridge
• 14 spaces annually at the Drumheller Society for Recovery’s Grace House, Drumheller
• 104 spaces annually at the Bonnyville Indian-Metis Rehab Centre, Bonnyville
• 98 spaces annually at Fresh Start Addictions Centre, Calgary
• 34 spaces annually at Simon House Recovery Centre, Calgary
• 52 spaces annually at Sunrise Healing Lodge Society, Calgary
• 1,820 spaces annually at The George Spady Centre Society, Edmonton (detox)
• 560 spaces annually at Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres, near Edmonton
• 44 spaces annually at Southern Alcare Manor, Lethbridge
• 1,251 spaces annually at Kainai Nation’s Bringing the Spirit Home Safe Withdrawal Management Site, Standoff (detox)
• 832 spaces annually at Foothills Centre, Fort McLeod (detox)
• 574 spaces annually at Thorpe Recovery Centre, near Lloydminster

A new app will also launch to improve connections within the addictions treatment system. My Recovery Plan aims to provide waitlist management and track treatment and recovery options. The province said users can take the information with them to various programs so they are not starting each program from scratch. The app will launch in phases beginning in 2022.