LAKELAND - The province is increasing the capacity for youth addictions treatment by renovating the Edmonton Young Offenders Centre.
The renovation includes the creation of the Northern Alberta Youth Recovery Centre, which will have 105 beds for youth needing addictions treatment, as well as clinical, educational, and office spaces. According to the government, the recovery centre will be run separately from the corrections facility and will have its own entrance and living areas.
“I have a mandate letter that requires I care for those who are in addiction, and I need to do that as swiftly as I can, delaying that for optics, because somebody might have the wrong impression after $23 million is spent to very quickly renovate a facility, I think is misguided,” said Dan Williams, the minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
Currently there are only 70 beds for youth addictions treatment, so the new beds will more than double the provincial capacity.
Williams said they hope to have the renovation done in 2025 and have the beds open for clients by mid-2026.
According to Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how many youth in the Lakeland region are going to benefit from the facility, but “we know addiction touches many families across our constituency.”
“This centre is a significant step forward in ensuring young Albertans have access to life-saving recovery programs. It reflects our government’s commitment to supporting mental health and breaking cycles of addiction early,” said Cyr.
The Northern Alberta Youth Recovery Centre will have counselling, medication, skills development, and education opportunities available, and will be designed so parents and caregivers can continue to be involved while youth are receiving treatment.
“By offering a dedicated space for recovery, we can give people a chance to start fresh at a crucial point in their lives. I am confident this space will make a significant difference for young Albertans by providing the tailored care they need to succeed. Breaking the cycle of recidivism provides hope, which ultimately transforms lives and enhances public safety,” said Mike Ellis, the minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.
One quarter of the beds in the facility will be designated for Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act (PChAD), the provincial legislation which allows parents to have their children placed in mandatory detox for up to 15 days.
“Fifteen days is too short, especially when you talk about the nature of addiction and the nature of the drugs that are currently in the market today. That barely gets you through a detox period,” said Williams.
He said the province is looking at updating the compassionate intervention regimes with new legislation in the spring “to make sure that it's caring for those who are struggling with addiction, and making sure that parents are deeply involved, not in a combative way, but in a collaborative way, in getting their children the care that they all deserve.”
The announcement of the $23 million renovation is part of the larger addiction's strategy, which will see the province spend $350 million on 11 recovery communities for adults.
Addictions and mental health treatment is covered through the provincial health insurance program and has no fees for patients.
Albertans struggling with opioid addiction, including youth, can contact the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program by calling 1-844-383-7688, seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.
