A new residential treatment program is about to open in Greater Sudbury for addiction treatment, providing a home-like setting for the male clients. The 11-bed facility will be operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Sudbury Manitoulin. “We see the need within the community. We see that people are struggling and we want to be able to offer people choices,” said Lisa Arlt, CMHA program manager. Although there are already addiction treatment programs in the city, Arlt said this one is different. It will provide six weeks of structured treatment and care for men in a 24/7 residential setting. Safe place for recovery “We’re really hoping to have this program feel like a safe place for the men to be able to come in and recover in a safe environment,” she said. Arlt showed CTV News around the Kingsmount Boulevard facility Thursday, including the group counselling area, bedrooms and a back deck that overlooks nature. In a news release, CMHA Sudbury Manitoulin said several local organizations and service providers provided input toward the development of the program, including Monarch Recovery Services, which offers the same residential program for women. “Monarch Recovery Services is pleased to see the addition of 11 new treatment beds in our community through CMHA’s new program,” Monarch CEO Roxane Zuck said in an email. “This is an important step in strengthening the continuum of care for individuals seeking support with substance use and recovery. By expanding access to treatment and working collaboratively across the sector, we can help ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.” Opening this fall CMHA Sudbury Manitoulin plans to launch the men’s residential addiction treatment program this fall, but an exact opening date has not been given. Arlt said they’re still working to get staffing in place. “We have a very diverse team,” she said. “We have residential workers. We’re going to have an allied health team such as case managers (and) addiction specialists. We have a life enrichment worker, as well as onboarding a client navigator.” Given the need for addiction treatment and recovery across the Sudbury community, Arlt expects there could be a waitlist once the program is up and running. “I think that it is going to be a very demanding program and we are truly excited to offer this,” she said. Men interested in the program can contact the CMHA to self-refer to the program or they can go through a service provider.
