If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Sherbrooke or the Eastern Townships, Freeport Recovery offers structured, private treatment that you can access quickly — without the lengthy waitlists that come with Quebec’s publicly funded rehabilitation system. Our residential facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, providing the focused distance from familiar environments that meaningful recovery so often requires.
Quebec is facing a growing and urgent addiction crisis. In 2024, the province recorded 645 confirmed opioid-related deaths — up from 536 the year before, and more than double the number recorded in 2022, according to federal data from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. That upward trend stands in stark contrast to most other provinces, where opioid deaths declined in 2024. Quebec is moving in the wrong direction.
Fentanyl and its analogues are increasingly present in the province’s illicit drug supply, often mixed into substances people don’t realize are contaminated. Stimulants, benzodiazepines, and novel psychoactive substances are also involved in a growing proportion of deaths across Quebec.
Beyond opioids, alcohol, cocaine, prescription drugs, and cannabis affect tens of thousands of Quebec residents each year — including right here in Sherbrooke and the Estrie region. Addiction does not discriminate by neighbourhood, income level, or profession.
The public treatment system in Quebec is under serious strain. Publicly funded addiction rehabilitation centres (Centres de réadaptation en dépendance, or CRDs) face growing demand, and wait times for services — including opioid agonist therapy — can stretch to weeks or longer. For someone who has found the courage to ask for help, that wait 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 Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships are surprised to learn that one of the most important decisions in their recovery is where they receive it. Here’s why leaving the region 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 Sherbrooke residents — especially professionals, business owners, and parents — seeking treatment close to home comes with concerns about being recognized. Our facility offers complete privacy in a setting that’s far enough away to matter.
No disruption to your 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 setting.
English-language care. Freeport Recovery delivers all programming in English — an important consideration for Sherbrooke’s anglophone and bilingual communities who may find fully English-language private treatment options limited closer to home.
Our treatment facility is located in St. Catharines, Ontario. Most clients travelling from Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships arrive by car.
Driving from Sherbrooke: Take Autoroute 10 West toward Montreal, then continue via the A-20 West or A-40 West through Montreal to the Ontario border, then south on the QEW toward St. Catharines (Exit 47 or your GPS destination). Estimated drive time: approximately 6 to 6.5 hours depending on traffic through Montreal.
Travelling from nearby communities:
For clients who prefer not to drive the full distance, our admissions team is available to assist with transportation arrangements — including options to connect via Montreal. 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 Sherbrooke 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 residential treatment.
Aftercare Recovery doesn’t end at discharge. Our aftercare programming keeps Sherbrooke-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 Sherbrooke 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 Quebec, including Sherbrooke and the Eastern Townships. Our admissions team is experienced in helping clients navigate the logistics of travelling from Quebec for treatment, including transportation planning and family communication. We also deliver all programming in English, making us a strong fit for Sherbrooke’s anglophone and bilingual communities.
Most clients from Sherbrooke reach our St. Catharines facility in approximately 6 to 6.5 hours via Autoroute 10 West and the QEW. Clients from communities like Magog or Coaticook will have similar travel times. Our admissions team can assist with transportation planning if needed.
In most cases, we can accommodate new clients within a few days of initial contact. This is a significant advantage over Quebec’s publicly funded system, where demand for addiction rehabilitation services continues to grow and wait times for treatment can stretch to weeks or longer. We understand that the window when someone is ready to seek help is precious — we don’t make you wait for it.
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 Sherbrooke 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 Quebec-based clients choose private residential treatment 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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