Provincial officials say these facilities are a part of the Alberta Recovery Model which provides a continuum of care to those suffering from addiction including prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery. A main focus of the model is to increase treatment capacity, which officials say has been addressed through the funding of more than 10,000 new treatment spaces since 2019.
At each of the recovery communities funded by the provincial government, programs average about three months long, but clients may stay up to one year if it is necessary for their success in recovery. The services are provided at no cost to the client.
Officials say the Lakeview Recovery Community was developed by renovating and expanding existing government-owned infrastructure, formerly known as the McCullough Centre. Government representatives say the facility was closed in February 2021 due to the need for repairs, allowing for a full renovation of each cabin and the construction of a new dining hall. In total, Alberta’s government invested $21 million for the construction of the community.
“There is hope in helping someone pursue recovery, and our government is proud to be focused on that. The goal of recovery communities like this one is that each client leaves drug-free and ready to begin jobs or training with the help of strong connections close to home,” said Premier Danielle Smith. “Recovery communities are making a difference in the lives of many Albertans facing addiction, and affecting countless more as they reunite with those they love on a new path forward in recovery.”
The facility will be operated by ROSC Solutions Group Inc. and will be home to the Recovery Training Institute of Alberta (RTIA). The RTIA is described as a provincial training hub for those employed within a recovery community or other treatment centre in Alberta. Officials say it is expected to provide an environment for hands-on learning with full immersion into the work of addiction treatment.
“The government is now bragging about expanding treatment spaces, but all they have actually done is shut down a public treatment centre, laid off all the workers, and now turned the infrastructure over to a private company to run the centre instead,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “What they are doing isn’t about expanding capacity for Albertans in need of support for substance or mental health issues, it’s about accelerating an ideological agenda of privatization through Recovery Alberta, and perpetuating the growth of the for-profit recovery industry.”
“Addictions care is health care, full stop. Albertans need to know that their mental health and addictions services are being delivered as part of our public health care system, not contracted out to the lowest bidder seeking to profit off of Albertans struggling as a result of this drug toxicity crisis,” said Gallaway. “We must ensure that these health care services are being publicly delivered, with the full transparency and accountability that Albertans and their families deserve.”
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