If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Nanaimo, Freeport Recovery offers structured, private treatment you can access quickly — without the waiting lists that so often stand between someone who is ready for help and the care they need.
Our residential facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario — accessible from Nanaimo via a direct or connecting flight through Nanaimo Airport (YCD) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ), with transfer time to our facility of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. For many people on Vancouver Island, travelling across the country for treatment isn’t just practical — it’s one of the most powerful decisions they can make.
We support individuals from across the Central Vancouver Island region — including Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Lantzville, Gabriola Island, and surrounding communities — who are ready to make a real and lasting change.
Nanaimo is one of the hardest-hit cities in British Columbia when it comes to substance use and toxic drug deaths. Despite representing only about two per cent of BC’s total population, Nanaimo has consistently accounted for a disproportionate share of the province’s overdose fatalities — with a toxic drug death rate roughly double the Vancouver Island average, according to the BC Coroners Service and the Nanaimo Area Public Safety Association.
In 2024, the BC Coroners Service recorded 94 unregulated drug deaths in Nanaimo — a figure that, while lower than the 114 deaths recorded in 2023, remains far above pre-crisis levels. Provincially, 2,253 British Columbians lost their lives to toxic drugs in 2024 alone. Fentanyl was detected in the vast majority of those deaths, and the contaminated drug supply continues to evolve unpredictably.
Beyond opioids, alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines affect thousands of Nanaimo residents each year — cutting across income levels, neighbourhoods, and backgrounds.
The public treatment system, while expanding, remains under significant pressure. Wait times for publicly funded residential addiction treatment in BC can range from weeks to months, depending on availability and region. For someone who has found the courage to ask for help, that wait is not just frustrating — it can be dangerous. Recovery windows are fragile, and private treatment allows you to act on them immediately.
Many people in Nanaimo are surprised to learn that one of the most important decisions in their recovery is where they receive it. Here’s why leaving Vancouver Island — and stepping away entirely — 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 places real, purposeful distance between you and your environment — giving your mind and body the space to reset in ways that simply aren’t possible close to home.
Privacy and confidentiality. For many Nanaimo residents — especially professionals, tradespeople, parents, and small business owners — seeking treatment locally comes with real concerns about being recognized. Our Ontario facility offers complete privacy, far removed from your immediate community.
A therapeutic environment. Our St. Catharines facility offers access to outdoor space, physical fitness programming, and wellness modalities — the kind of healing environment that supports deep, sustained recovery.
No disruption to your family’s logistics. Our admissions team manages everything from intake through to discharge planning and aftercare. Your one job is to get well.
Our treatment facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, accessible from Nanaimo Regional Airport (YCD) on Vancouver Island.
Flying from Nanaimo: The most common route is via Nanaimo Airport (YCD) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), with a connection in Vancouver (YVR). Total flight time is typically 5–6 hours including the connection. From Toronto Pearson, our St. Catharines facility is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes by car via the QEW/Highway 406.
Alternatively, some clients travel via BC Ferries and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) if departing from the Lower Mainland.
Travelling from surrounding communities:
If you need help arranging transportation or coordinating travel 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 Nanaimo 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 — and a meaningful alternative to waiting for a local publicly funded program.
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 Nanaimo-based clients connected to their clinical team and peer community as they reintegrate into daily life on Vancouver Island.
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 Nanaimo 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 British Columbia, including Vancouver Island. Our admissions team is experienced in helping people coordinate the logistics of travelling from BC for treatment — including flight planning, transportation, and communication with families. The distance is not a barrier; for most clients, it becomes an advantage.
The most straightforward route is a flight from Nanaimo Airport (YCD) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ), typically with a connection in Vancouver. From Toronto, our St. Catharines facility is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes by car via the QEW. Our admissions team can help you plan this travel — many clients are surprised by how manageable the journey is once they’ve decided to take it.
In most cases, we can accommodate new clients within a few days of initial contact. This is a meaningful advantage over publicly funded programs in BC, where residential treatment wait times can range from weeks to months. 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. BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) 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 Nanaimo 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 across the 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. Given the travel involved, we keep the packing list straightforward and manageable.
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 BC-based clients choose private residential treatment — and treatment in another province specifically — because of the privacy it affords.
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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