If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Halifax, Freeport Recovery offers structured, private treatment — with same-week admissions and no lengthy waitlists. Our residential facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, and our full virtual program means that geography is never a barrier to getting the help you need.
Whether you’re ready to commit to residential treatment and want the focused distance that real recovery often requires, or you need to stay connected to work and family while getting structured clinical support, Freeport Recovery has a path designed for you.
We support individuals from across Halifax and the broader Nova Scotia region — including Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, the Eastern Shore, and the Annapolis Valley — who are ready to make a real and lasting change.
Halifax is the centre of Nova Scotia’s addiction crisis — and that crisis is growing. In 2024, Nova Scotia recorded 68 confirmed opioid toxicity deaths province-wide, and while that represents a slight decrease from the prior year, the overall rate of drug-related harm remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Researchers at Dalhousie University have documented a troubling post-pandemic shift: deaths linked to illicit opioids including fentanyl and heroin have risen sharply in the Halifax region specifically, even as the province has historically seen more pharmaceutical opioid-related fatalities than most of Canada.
Beyond opioids, alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and prescription drug misuse affect tens of thousands of Nova Scotians each year — cutting across income levels, neighbourhoods, and demographics.
The public treatment system in Nova Scotia is under serious strain. Nova Scotia has only approximately two government-funded inpatient treatment programs province-wide, and those programs typically run just 21 days — often including detox time. Wait times for non-urgent addiction treatment in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick range from 29 to 240 days, depending on the region and program type. For someone who has found the courage to ask for help, that wait is not just frustrating — it can be life-threatening. Recovery windows are fragile, and private treatment allows you to act on them immediately.
Many people in Halifax are surprised to learn that one of the most important decisions in their recovery is where they receive it. Here’s why leaving the province often produces better outcomes:
Distance from triggers. Recovery is significantly harder when you’re surrounded by the same people, places, and routines that reinforced substance use. Residential treatment in St. Catharines removes you from that environment entirely — and gives your mind and body the space to reset.
A meaningful commitment. Travelling from Halifax to Ontario for treatment is a deliberate act. It signals to yourself and to the people around you that you are serious about recovery. That intention matters — and it carries through the program.
Privacy and confidentiality. Halifax is a relatively small city, and for many residents — professionals, business owners, parents — seeking treatment close to home comes with real concerns about being recognized. Our facility offers complete privacy in a setting far from home.
No disruption to your logistics. Our admissions team handles everything. You focus on getting well; we handle intake, program planning, and discharge and aftercare coordination.
A therapeutic environment. Our St. Catharines facility offers access to outdoor space, physical fitness, and wellness modalities — the kind of healing environment that’s difficult to replicate in an urban centre.
Our treatment facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario. Most clients travelling from Halifax fly into Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Hamilton International Airport (YHM).
Flying from Halifax Stanfield (YHZ): Daily direct and connecting flights operate from Halifax to Toronto Pearson, with a flight time of approximately 2 hours. From Pearson, our St. Catharines facility is approximately 1 hour by car via the QEW South.
Flying into Hamilton (YHM): Some carriers offer Halifax–Hamilton routes. Hamilton airport is approximately 30 minutes from our facility — the shortest ground transfer of any major airport option.
Travelling from other parts of Nova Scotia:
If you need help arranging transportation to our facility, our admissions team is available to assist. We want getting to treatment to be the easiest part of this process.
Freeport Recovery offers a full continuum of care designed to meet you where you are — whether you need intensive residential support or flexible virtual treatment.
Our flagship program. You live at our facility full-time and engage in a structured daily schedule of individual therapy, group sessions, wellness activities, and personal development. Residential treatment is the most effective option for moderate to severe substance use disorders, and clients typically stay for 30, 60, or 90 days depending on clinical need.
For Halifax residents who cannot leave work, family, or other responsibilities, our virtual program delivers evidence-based addiction treatment entirely online. Sessions are structured, confidential, and led by our clinical team. This is a legitimate, evidence-informed path to recovery — not a lesser alternative.
Ongoing one-on-one support with a certified recovery counsellor, designed for individuals in early recovery or those stepping down from residential care. Ideal for maintaining progress and accountability after completing residential treatment.
Recovery doesn’t end at discharge. Our aftercare programming keeps Halifax-based clients connected to their clinical team and peer community as they reintegrate into daily life.
Freeport Recovery provides treatment for a wide range of substance use disorders, including:
Alcohol
Cocaine
Amphetamine
Opioid
Benzodiazepine
Prescription Drug
Cannabis
Many clients arrive with co-occurring concerns — anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health challenges alongside their substance use. Our integrated approach addresses both simultaneously.
At Freeport Recovery, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all treatment. Every client receives a personalized care plan built around their substance use history, mental and physical health, goals, and lifestyle. Our clinical team combines evidence-based therapies with a range of experiential and wellness-based modalities:
Our facility is CARF accredited and LegitScript certified — independent third-party verifications that our programs meet rigorous standards for quality and safety.
We know that the cost of private treatment is often one of the first concerns for Halifax residents and their families. Freeport Recovery partners with Medicard to offer flexible payment plans, making private care more attainable. Our admissions team will discuss all available options with you transparently and without pressure — because financial concerns should never be the reason someone doesn’t get the help they need.
Yes. We regularly admit clients from Atlantic Canada, and our admissions team is experienced in helping people navigate the logistics of travelling from Nova Scotia for treatment — including flight coordination, transportation planning, and communication with families. The distance from Halifax is often one of the best things about choosing residential treatment at our facility.
Most clients fly from Halifax Stanfield (YHZ) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) — a roughly 2-hour direct flight — then travel approximately 1 hour by car to our St. Catharines facility via the QEW. Some clients fly into Hamilton (YHM) for a shorter 30-minute drive. Our admissions team can help you plan and coordinate your travel.
In most cases, we can accommodate new clients within a few days of initial contact. This is a significant advantage over Nova Scotia’s publicly funded system, where wait times for addiction treatment range from 29 to 240 days. We understand that the window when someone is ready and willing to seek help is precious — we don’t make you wait for it.
Freeport Recovery is a private treatment facility. MSI covers publicly funded addiction programs, but not private centres. We offer flexible financing through our partnership with Medicard, which provides structured payment plans to make private treatment more accessible. Our admissions team will walk you through all available financial options before you commit to anything.
Residential treatment means you live at our facility in St. Catharines for the duration of your program — typically 30 to 90 days. It is the most comprehensive level of care and is recommended for moderate to severe substance use disorders, or for individuals who have attempted treatment before without long-term success. Virtual treatment is delivered entirely online and suits individuals with work, family, or financial constraints that make travelling from Halifax difficult. Both programs are clinically structured and led by our treatment team.
Absolutely. Family involvement is an important part of the recovery process. We offer family support, education, and counselling throughout treatment. Families can participate remotely — which works naturally for Halifax-based families with a loved one in residential care — or visit our facility when appropriate. Our team will provide guidance on how to best support your loved one’s recovery.
Our admissions team will send you a complete packing list after your intake call. In general, you’ll want comfortable clothing for therapy sessions and physical activities, personal hygiene items, any prescribed medications, and a few personal comfort items. Electronics policies vary — our admissions team will advise you on this during intake.
Yes, completely. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of our practice and is protected by law. Your treatment at Freeport Recovery will not be disclosed to employers, family members (without your consent), or any other parties. For many Halifax residents — particularly those in professional roles or tight-knit communities — the privacy afforded by out-of-province residential treatment is one of its most important benefits.
Recovery is possible, and it begins with one step forward. Start your journey today and let us walk beside you every step of the way.
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