If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Lethbridge, Freeport Recovery offers structured, private treatment that you can access quickly — without the waitlists that come with publicly funded programs in Alberta. Our residential facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, providing the focused distance from familiar environments that meaningful recovery often requires.
Lethbridge has experienced one of the most severe addiction crises of any city in Alberta — and while progress is being made, thousands of residents continue to struggle with substance use every year. We are here to help you act on your readiness now, not weeks from now.
Lethbridge has faced some of the most acute addiction challenges in Canada. At its peak in 2023, the city recorded 118 overdose deaths — a per capita rate of 110.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, the highest in Alberta at that time, according to Lethbridge News Now. Fentanyl and methamphetamine remain the most frequently encountered drugs in the downtown core, according to the Lethbridge Police Service.
Across Alberta in 2024, substances claimed 1,414 lives, with nearly 11,000 EMS responses to opioid-related emergencies and more than 76,000 emergency department visits linked to substance use, according to the provincial government.
While overdose deaths in Lethbridge have declined in recent years due to community and government investment, the underlying reality remains: thousands of Lethbridge residents are living with active addiction, and alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, cocaine, and stimulants continue to affect people across every neighbourhood and demographic.
Publicly funded treatment in Alberta can involve wait times of 4 to 8 weeks for residential programs — and some programs require several days of abstinence before admission is even possible. For someone who has found the courage to ask for help, waiting weeks is not just frustrating — it can be life-threatening. Private treatment allows you to act on your window of readiness immediately.
Many people in Lethbridge are surprised to learn that one of the most important decisions in recovery is where you receive it. Here’s why leaving the city 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.
Privacy and confidentiality. For many Lethbridge residents — especially professionals, parents, and those in close-knit communities — seeking treatment locally comes with real concerns about being recognized. Our facility offers complete privacy in a setting far removed from your daily life.
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 the context of everyday city life.
No disruption to your recovery focus. Our admissions team handles everything from intake through to discharge planning and aftercare. You focus on getting well; we handle the logistics.
Our treatment facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario. Most clients travelling from Lethbridge reach us by flying into one of the nearby Ontario airports, with our admissions team available to assist with transportation planning from the moment you land.
Flying from Lethbridge: The most direct route is a flight from Lethbridge Airport (YQL) or Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Hamilton’s John C. Munro Airport (YHM). From Pearson, St. Catharines is approximately 1 hour by car via the QEW. From Hamilton Airport, the drive is approximately 30–40 minutes.
Direct and connecting flights from Calgary to Toronto are available daily from multiple carriers, with total travel times typically ranging from 4 to 5 hours.
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 Lethbridge 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 Lethbridge-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 Lethbridge 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 across Alberta, including Lethbridge and the surrounding region. Our admissions team is experienced in helping people navigate the logistics of travelling from Alberta for treatment, including flight arrangements and family communication. The distance is part of what makes our program effective — and we make the process as simple as possible.
Most clients fly from Lethbridge Airport (YQL) or Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Hamilton Airport (YHM). From Toronto Pearson, our St. Catharines facility is approximately 1 hour by car. Our admissions team can assist with transportation planning from the airport to our door.
In most cases, we can accommodate new clients within a few days of initial contact. This is a significant advantage over publicly funded residential programs in Alberta, where wait times of 4 to 8 weeks are common — and some programs require days of abstinence before admission. We understand that readiness is fragile and time-sensitive. We don’t make you wait.
Freeport Recovery is a private treatment facility and is not covered by Alberta Health Care Insurance. 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 Lethbridge 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 well for Lethbridge-based families — or visit our facility as appropriate. Our team will provide guidance on how to best support your loved one’s recovery from a distance.
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. We recommend packing light, as everything you need is provided at the facility.
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 Lethbridge residents, travelling to an out-of-province facility offers an added layer of privacy that local treatment cannot.
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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