Fourteen addictions treatment spaces are now available in the province at the new Battlefords Treatment Centre.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister, Tim McLeod, says the centre is operated by Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres to provide withdrawal management and inpatient addictions treatment spaces through the publicly funded health care system.

He notes that Poundmaker’s Lodge has 50 years of experience in this area and is recognized internationally, including for their approach to Indigenous culture and spirituality.

The Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement worked with Poundmaker’s Lodge, the Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority to repurpose the former Drumming Hill Youth Centre into the Battlefords Treatment Centre.

The provincial government has committed to adding 500 addictions treatment spaces and to date, has announced 213.

The spaces to date include the 14 from the Battlefords Treatment Centre, 15 inpatient treatment spaces at Thorpe Recovery Centre near Lloydminster, 15 inpatient spaces at Muskwa Lake Wellness Camp, 26 post-treatment spaces at St. Joseph’s Addiction Recovery Centre in Estevan, 32 intensive outpatient treatment spaces through Possibilities Recovery Center in Saskatoon, 60 inpatient treatment spaces in Lumsden, 15 withdrawal management spaces at Onion Lake and 36 virtual spaces through EHN Canada.