If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Ottawa, Freeport Recovery offers structured, private treatment that you can access quickly — without the lengthy waitlists that come with publicly funded programs in Ontario. Our residential facility is located in St. Catharines, approximately 5 to 6 hours from Ottawa via Highway 416 South and the QEW, providing the focused distance from familiar environments that meaningful recovery often requires.
We support individuals from across the Ottawa region — including Gatineau, Kanata, Barrhaven, Nepean, Gloucester, and the surrounding communities — who are ready to make a real and lasting change.
Ottawa has not been spared from Ontario’s ongoing overdose crisis. In 2023, Ottawa Public Health confirmed 207 opioid toxicity deaths among Ottawa residents — the highest number on record for the city, representing a nearly three-fold increase compared to 2019. While preliminary 2024 data suggest some improvement, opioid-related deaths in Ottawa remain far above pre-pandemic levels, and the broader pattern of harm continues.
Fentanyl is consistently present in the drug supply driving these deaths, and is frequently detected alongside cocaine, benzodiazepines, and xylazine — combinations that dramatically increase overdose risk. Across Ontario, more than 2,200 residents lost their lives to opioids in 2024 alone, according to the Office of the Chief Coroner.
Beyond opioids, alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and prescription drug misuse affect tens of thousands of Ottawa residents each year, cutting across income levels, neighbourhoods, and demographics — including working professionals, students, and parents who may not see themselves as fitting the stereotype of addiction.
The public treatment system is under enormous pressure. The average wait time for a publicly funded treatment program in Ontario is approximately 42 days — and that’s before accounting for the time needed to see a specialist. For someone who has found the courage to ask for help, waiting more than a month 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 Ottawa are surprised to learn that one of the most important decisions in their recovery is where they 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 Ottawa residents — especially public servants, professionals, 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 your life while you’re away. Our admissions team handles everything. You focus on getting well; we handle the logistics from intake through to discharge planning and aftercare.
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, approximately 550 km from Ottawa. Most clients travelling from the Ottawa area arrive by car, though our admissions team can assist with transportation arrangements if needed.
Driving from Ottawa: Take Highway 416 South to Highway 401 West. Continue on the 401 through Kingston and Toronto. Just past Toronto, take the QEW South toward Niagara. Continue on the QEW to St. Catharines (Exit 47 or your GPS destination). Estimated drive time: approximately 5 hours to 6 hours depending on traffic, particularly through the Toronto corridor.
Travelling from:
A note on the drive: We understand that the distance from Ottawa is greater than from some other parts of Ontario. Many of our Ottawa clients see that distance as part of the benefit — a meaningful separation from their everyday environment that supports the recovery process. If arranging transportation feels like a barrier, please talk to us. 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 Ottawa 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.
Our aftercare programming keeps Ottawa-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 Ottawa 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.
We’re happy to provide specific pricing information during your admissions call.
Yes. We regularly admit clients from across Eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, Kanata, Barrhaven, Nepean, Gloucester, and surrounding communities. Our admissions team is experienced in helping Ottawa residents navigate the logistics of travelling to St. Catharines for treatment, including transportation planning and communication with families.
The drive from Ottawa to our St. Catharines facility is approximately 550 km and takes between 5 and 6 hours via Highway 416 South to Highway 401 West to the QEW South. Travel time can vary depending on traffic through the Toronto area. Many of our Ottawa clients find the distance meaningful — it creates a genuine break from the environment associated with their substance use.
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 Ontario, where the average wait for treatment can be approximately 42 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. OHIP 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.
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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