If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Québec, Freeport Recovery offers structured, private treatment that you can access quickly — without the lengthy waitlists that characterize publicly funded programs in the province. Our residential facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, approximately 6 hours from Montréal via the 401 West, providing the focused distance from familiar environments that meaningful recovery often requires.
Québec is facing one of the most serious escalations of drug-related harm in its history. While overdose deaths have declined in most Canadian provinces, Québec is moving in the opposite direction. In 2024, there were 645 confirmed opioid-related deaths in the province — up from 536 in 2023, and more than double the number recorded in 2022, according to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. Québec’s public health institute has described 2024 as the worst year on record for overdose deaths in the province.
The province has traditionally had a cocaine-driven drug market, but opioids — particularly fentanyl and illicit benzodiazepines — are now driving a sharp rise in deaths. Urgences-Santé in Montréal alone administered naloxone over 1,000 times in 2024, with fentanyl implicated in a growing proportion of those calls. Experts at Université de Montréal describe Québec as “catching up” to a crisis that has devastated other provinces for years — and the pace of that acceleration is alarming.
Beyond opioids, alcohol, cocaine, stimulants, benzodiazepines, and prescription drug misuse affect tens of thousands of Québec residents each year, cutting across income levels, communities, and demographics — urban and regional alike.
The public treatment system is under enormous pressure. For someone who has found the courage to ask for help, waiting weeks or months for a publicly funded bed is not just frustrating — it can be fatal. Recovery windows are fragile, and private treatment allows you to act on them immediately.
Many people in Québec 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 and gives your mind and body the space to reset.
Privacy and confidentiality. For many Québec residents — especially professionals, business owners, and parents — seeking treatment close to home comes with concerns about being recognized or known. Our facility offers complete privacy in a setting that’s far enough away to matter.
No disruption to your home life. 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. Most clients from Québec travel by car or can arrange transportation through our admissions team.
Driving from Montréal: Take Highway 20 West (or the 401 West) toward Toronto. Continue on the 401 West past Kingston and Toronto, then take the QEW South toward Niagara, exiting at St. Catharines (Exit 47 or your GPS destination). Estimated drive time: approximately 6 hours depending on traffic and stops.
Travelling from:
If driving from Québec is not practical, our admissions team is available to help you arrange transportation to our facility. 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 Québec 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 Québec-based clients connected to their clinical team and peer community as they reintegrate into daily life back home.
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 Québec 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 Montréal, Laval, Gatineau, and communities throughout the province. Our admissions team has supported Québec residents from a wide range of backgrounds — professionals, parents, students, and individuals from all walks of life. We are experienced in helping people navigate the logistics of travelling from Québec for treatment, including transportation planning and family communication.
Most clients from Montréal reach our St. Catharines facility in approximately 6 hours via Highway 401 West and the QEW South. Travel times from other parts of Québec vary — Gatineau is approximately 5 hours, and Québec City is approximately 9.5 hours. Our admissions team can help you plan your travel or arrange transportation.
In most cases, we can accommodate new clients within a few days of initial contact. 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. RAMQ covers publicly funded addiction programs in Québec, 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 leaving Québec 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 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 Québec-based clients choose private residential treatment specifically because of the privacy it affords — including the distance from their home community.
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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