50-bed substance use treatment facility to open in N.B. next summer

The 50-bed adult live-in treatment facility will open at Eagle's Eye View Cottages. (CTV Atlantic/ Avery MacRae)

The Government of New Brunswick announced a 50-bed substance use treatment facility for adults will open next year on the Kingston Peninsula.

The facility will be operated by Edgewood Health Network. It will help address a gap in live-in treatment options in the province for people with substance use and behavioural addictions.

“People living with addiction deserve dignity, compassion, and to know that help is within reach when they need it,” said Premier Susan Holt. “We are focused on making sure New Brunswickers can get the care they need, when they need it. This new facility is an important step forward; it doubles our capacity and creates a supportive environment where people can work toward recovery with dignity.”

The province will spend $6.3 million annual on operational costs.

The centre will be at Eagle’s Eye View Cottages in the Carter’s Point area of the Fundy Rural District.

It will operate under a therapeutic community model where residents participate in counselling, education and skills development to support long-term recovery. Residents stay at the centre for typically four-to-six months, depending on their needs.

“We have things like seven day detox solutions, we have day treatment solutions, we have things where you can kind of get in for a number of weeks, but here you’re going to be able to come and recover in a supported way at your pace for as long as you need until you can be stable and you can do so in a way that your family can participate in and others,” Holt said at Monday’s announcement.

The facility will serve more than 100 people each year and double the province’s capacity for adult live-in treatment centres.

“This facility helps move us closer to ensuring that there is a bed available for every New Brunswicker who seeks help,” said Justice Minister Robert McKee, who is also minister responsible for addictions and mental health services. “We are proud to partner with Edgewood Health Network, an accredited provider with a strong track record of quality care and collaboration with governments and health authorities across Canada.”

This is Edgewood Health Network’s first facility in N.B., with 11 others located across Canada.

“Expanding inpatient services ensures that high-quality, evidence-based care is accessible for everyone who needs it, “said Dr. Christina Basedow, Edgewood Health Network’s chief operating officer. “Our partnership with the Province of New Brunswick reflects a shared dedication to excellence in mental health and addiction treatment close to home.”

Renovations and construction are expected to begin shortly, with the facility opening next summer.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Avery MacRae

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