The Government of Alberta has announced more than $330,000 for 140 pre-treatment beds for people seeking addiction recovery. Pre-treatment beds aim to bridge the gap for those who have completed detox and are preparing for addiction treatment. “The road to recovery is unique for every person,” said Rick Wilson, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction in a statement Tuesday. “Pre-treatment care provides stability, connection and support while someone is awaiting addiction treatment.” Alberta began transitioning to a “recovery-based” model for addiction treatment in 2019. The province says Edmonton accounts for more than half of opioid-related deaths in Alberta. Edmonton’s Oxford House will provide 24/7 onside support for clients preparing for placement in an addictions treatment program. Addiction counsellors and recovery coaches will help clients develop skills to prevent relapse and understand treatment recovery options. One pre-treatment home will be designated for women while the other will be for men. “For seven years, I was trapped in severe addiction and total homelessness,” said the Oxford House Foundation’s executive director Earl Thiessen. “I was a person society looked past – someone written off as hopeless. I used my lived experience to build the pre-treatment housing model in Alberta. It fills a gap in care that we are working to address.” The province says that since 2023, the Alberta government has provided funding to Oxford House for pre-treatment services in Calgary, supporting nearly 1,200 Albertans to date.
