If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Saint John, Freeport Recovery offers structured, private treatment that you can access quickly — without the lengthy waitlists that define publicly funded care in New Brunswick. Our residential facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, providing the focused distance from familiar environments that meaningful recovery often requires.
For Saint John residents ready to make a real and lasting change, we offer two clear paths forward: our immersive residential program in St. Catharines, or our fully virtual treatment program that delivers evidence-based care wherever you are in New Brunswick.
Saint John is at the centre of one of the most serious substance use crises in Atlantic Canada. According to New Brunswick Public Health, there were 78 apparent opioid toxicity deaths in the province in 2024 — and fentanyl was detected in 57% of those deaths, marking two consecutive record years for fentanyl-related fatalities. Front-line harm reduction workers in Saint John have described responding to overdoses in their own offices, with the city’s toxic drug supply described by advocates as particularly dangerous.
New Brunswick also carries the highest rate of substance use disorders of any province in the country, at 27.9% of the population — nearly eight full percentage points above the national average of 20.7%, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s 2024 State of Mental Health in Canada report.
Beyond opioids, alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and prescription drug misuse affect tens of thousands of New Brunswickers each year. Co-occurring substance use is common: of all apparent substance toxicity deaths in New Brunswick between 2020 and 2024, more than 90% involved two or more drug classes simultaneously — a sign of how complex and dangerous the current drug supply has become.
The public treatment system is under severe strain. New Brunswick’s own Auditor General reported in December 2024 that more than half of high-priority addiction cases were not being seen within the province’s 14-day target — and wait times for residential treatment have reached three to eight months in some cases. For someone who has found the courage to ask for help, waiting months is not just frustrating — it can be fatal. Private treatment allows you to act on the recovery window immediately.
Leaving home to seek treatment can feel like a significant step. For many Saint John residents, it turns out to be one of the most important decisions they make. Here’s why:
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 puts meaningful distance between you and those environments — giving your mind and body the space to reset.
Privacy and confidentiality. Saint John is a tight-knit city. For many residents — especially professionals, tradespeople, parents, and those in public-facing roles — seeking treatment close to home raises understandable concerns about being recognized. Our facility offers complete privacy in a setting removed from your community.
No waitlists. In most cases, we can admit new clients within a few days of initial contact. You don’t have to wait three months for a bed while your situation deteriorates.
A dedicated therapeutic environment. Our St. Catharines facility offers access to outdoor space, physical fitness programming, and a full range of wellness modalities — the kind of structured healing environment that is difficult to replicate at home.
Full virtual option. If leaving New Brunswick isn’t possible right now, our virtual treatment program delivers the same clinical rigour entirely online — structured, confidential, and led by our treatment team.
Our treatment facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, approximately 1,200 km from Saint John. Most clients travelling from New Brunswick reach us by flying into Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Hamilton’s John C. Munro Airport (YHM), then arranging ground transportation to St. Catharines.
Flying from Saint John (YSJ): Direct and connecting flights from Saint John Airport to Toronto Pearson are available daily via Air Canada and WestJet. Flight time is approximately 2 hours. From Toronto Pearson, St. Catharines is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes by car via the QEW West toward Niagara.
Flying into Hamilton (YHM): Some clients prefer flying into Hamilton’s airport, which is approximately 45 minutes from our facility. This can be a cost-effective alternative to Pearson.
Driving from Saint John: For clients who prefer to drive, the route follows the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) westbound through Moncton, across Quebec, and into Ontario via Highway 401 to the QEW toward St. Catharines. Total driving distance is approximately 1,200 km with an estimated drive time of 11 to 12 hours depending on conditions and stops.
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.
Residential (Inpatient) 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.
Virtual Treatment Program For Saint John 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.
Certified Recovery Counselling 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 a program.
Aftercare Recovery doesn’t end at discharge. Our aftercare programming keeps New Brunswick-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 Saint John 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 Atlantic Canada and New Brunswick. Our admissions team understands the unique context of seeking treatment from outside Ontario — including the logistics of travel, communication with families, and transitioning back to life in New Brunswick after discharge. You won’t be navigating this alone.
Most clients fly from Saint John Airport (YSJ) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Hamilton (YHM), with ground transportation to our St. Catharines facility arranged from there. Flight time is approximately 2 hours, and the drive from Pearson to our facility takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes via the QEW. Our admissions team can help coordinate travel arrangements.
In most cases, we can accommodate new clients within a few days of initial contact. This is a significant advantage over the public system in New Brunswick, where wait times for residential addiction treatment have reached three to eight months. We understand that the window when someone is ready and willing to get help is precious — we don’t make you wait for it.
Freeport Recovery is a private treatment facility. New Brunswick Medicare 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 leaving New Brunswick 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 clients from smaller communities like Saint John choose private residential treatment specifically because of the privacy and distance 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.
Speak with Admissions
