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Saskatchewan’s newest – and largest – addictions treatment centre is now fully open for patients.
On Wednesday, the provincial government announced that all 60 inpatient spaces at the EHN Willowview Recovery Centre near Lumsden are now open, and intake for the 40 newly opened spaces began on Tuesday.
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Lori Carr, Saskatchewan’s minister of mental health and addictions, said the best help that anyone can offer to an addict is a path to recovery.
“These inpatient treatment spaces are open to residents across our province,” Carr said in a statement.
“Patients will receive holistic, wrap-around addictions treatment for up to 16 weeks to support their recovery journey.”
The centre was originally expected to open in the spring of 2024, and the delays led to significant criticism from the Saskatchewan NDP.
According to the provincial government, 264 of the 500 new spaces that were promised under its Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions are now open. That total includes 40 mobile withdrawal management spaces and 42 “virtual spaces” through EHN Canada.
The Willowview centre will be operated by EHN Canada, which the government described as “a leading addictions treatment provider with decades of experience operating facilities across Canada.”
Christina Basedow, EHN Canada’s COO, said her organization is proud to help addicts on their paths to recovery.
“This milestone represents not only the culmination of dedicated work and partnership, but also a powerful step forward for the province,” Basedow said, quoted in a release from the provincial government.
“Saskatchewan continues to demonstrate national leadership by investing boldly in mental health and addiction services, and we are deeply honoured to work alongside the government to bring hope, healing, and recovery to individuals, families, and communities across the province.”
Zoe Teed-McKay, of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said the new spaces “will enhance existing services, reduce wait times, and help more of those people we care about receive the treatment they need to overcome addictions and live healthy, safe lives in recovery.”
But despite the new spaces opening, access to inpatient addictions treatment remains a challenge for many in the province.
Justin Ritco, a Regina resident, said he spent weeks trying to help his friend access treatment, but ran into repeated roadblocks due to long waiting lists and a lack of spaces.
“I thought if you want help – you need help – and you admit to needing help, that you can go in and there are services available,” Ritco said.
“We tried our best to keep them clean, but unfortunately they relapsed and we haven’t heard from them since.”
–with files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk
