If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Montréal, Freeport Recovery offers structured, private treatment you can access quickly — without the lengthy waitlists that define publicly funded programs in Québec. Our residential facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, approximately 5.5 to 6 hours from Montréal via Autoroute 20 and the QEW, providing the meaningful distance from familiar environments that lasting recovery so often requires.
Montréal is one of the most affected cities in Canada when it comes to substance use and addiction. Québec has seen a sharp and sustained rise in opioid-related harms over recent years — the province recorded hundreds of apparent opioid toxicity deaths annually, with fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids driving much of the increase. Stimulants, including cocaine and crack cocaine, have historically had a strong presence in Montréal and continue to account for a significant share of substance-related emergency visits and deaths in the city.
Beyond opioids and stimulants, alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis, and prescription drug misuse affect tens of thousands of Montréal residents each year — across all income levels, neighbourhoods, and demographics.
Access to treatment in Québec presents its own distinct challenges. Public programs operate under significant demand pressure, and wait times for funded residential treatment can stretch for weeks or months. For someone who has found the courage to ask for help, a long wait is not just discouraging — it can be life-threatening. Recovery windows are fragile, and private treatment allows you to act on them immediately.
Many Montréal residents are surprised to learn how much geography matters in recovery. Here’s why leaving the city — and 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 and gives your mind and body the space to reset.
A fresh start across a provincial boundary. For some clients, the psychological and practical distance of leaving Québec entirely adds an important layer of separation from old patterns and social networks.
Privacy and confidentiality. For many Montréal residents — especially professionals, business owners, and parents — seeking treatment close to home comes with real concerns about being recognized. Our facility offers complete privacy in a setting that’s far enough away to matter.
No disruption to the logistics you’re worried about. Our admissions team handles everything. You focus on getting well; we handle the intake process, discharge planning, 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 setting.
Our treatment facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, approximately 570 km from downtown Montréal. Most clients travelling from Greater Montréal arrive by car or via a combination of transit and private transfer.
Driving from downtown Montréal: Take Autoroute 20 West (or Autoroute 40 West) across the Ontario border, continuing on Highway 401 West toward Toronto. Exit onto the QEW South toward Niagara, then follow to St. Catharines (Exit 47 or your GPS destination). Estimated drive time: approximately 5.5 to 6 hours depending on traffic and border crossing.
Travelling from:
Flying: Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is approximately 1 hour from our facility. Clients travelling from Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) can fly into Pearson and arrange ground transportation from there. Our admissions team can assist with transfer coordination.
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 Montréal 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. Virtual care removes any concern about travel distance entirely.
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 Montréal-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 Montréal 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 Québec, including Greater Montréal and surrounding regions. Our admissions team is experienced in helping people navigate the logistics of travelling from Québec for treatment — including transportation planning, family communication, and province-specific considerations. Language is never a barrier; our team will ensure you feel fully supported from your first call.
Most clients driving from central Montréal reach our St. Catharines facility in approximately 5.5 to 6 hours via the A-20 and Highway 401 to the QEW. Clients from the West Island or South Shore may arrive slightly faster. Flying into Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and arranging ground transport is also a practical option and can reduce total travel time significantly.
In most cases, we can accommodate new clients within a few days of initial contact. This is a significant advantage over publicly funded programs in Québec, where wait times for residential treatment can stretch for weeks or longer. 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 in Ontario. Provincial health coverage (RAMQ) does not cover private residential addiction treatment. We offer flexible financing through our partnership with Medicard, which provides structured payment plans to make private treatment more accessible. Some clients may also have extended health benefits through an employer or private insurance plan that covers a portion of treatment costs — our admissions team will help you explore all available options.
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 Montréal 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 or visit our facility as 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. Many Montréal-based clients choose private residential treatment specifically because of the privacy it affords — including the privacy that comes with receiving treatment in another province.
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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