Summary

• The Province, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association B.C. Division, First Nations Health Authority and local First Nations, is adding 12 new treatment and recovery beds
• Expansion consists of four treatment beds in Adams Lake (Interior Health) and four supportive recovery beds each in Skidegate and Old Massett (Northern Health)
• These beds, led by local First Nations, will provide connection to community, promote person-centred wellness and support culturally safe healing informed by Indigenous knowledge

__________                                                                                                                

People struggling with substance use will have access to more supports with the opening of a dozen new treatment and recovery beds in three B.C. communities.

“The loss and grief caused by the toxic-drug crisis continue to be felt in First Nations communities throughout the province,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “The ongoing and intergenerational impacts of colonialism and Indigenous-specific racism continue to shape people’s experiences and health outcomes, which is why culturally grounded, Nation-led care is so important. These new treatment and recovery beds will help people access healing and recovery supports in a way that reflects their culture, community and strengths.”

New services offer help closer to home

The Province, in partnership with First Nations Health Authority, the Canadian Mental Health Association B.C. Division (CMHA BC) and local First Nations, is expanding access to supportive recovery and treatment beds in Haida Gwaii and Adams Lake. These services mean people can access supports closer to home. The services include:

• four supportive recovery beds in Old Massett, led by the Old Massett Village Council
• four supportive recovery beds in Skidegate, led by the Skidegate Band Council
• four treatment beds in Adams Lake, led by the Adams Lake Band Council

“When someone’s on their journey to recovery, support that centres them — their well-being, their needs and their culture — makes a world of difference,” said Jonny Morris, CEO, CMHA BC. “We are honoured to work with Indigenous partners in delivering culturally grounded treatment and recovery services that are rooted in Indigenous knowledge and wisdom. Thank you to the Government of B.C., First Nations Health Authority, and the local Nations for your leadership, partnership and commitment to advancing this work.”

Beds in Skidegate and Adams Lake are open and accepting clients, while beds in Old Massett are expected to open in July 2026.

Expanding continuum of care in the northwest

In addition to these new bed-based services, the Province is working in partnership with Northern First Nations Alliance, First Nations Health Authority, and Northern Health to build a culturally grounded substance-use system of care in the northwest. This includes expanding B.C.’s Road to Recovery model of care, which improves the way people access services.  

As part of Road to Recovery’s expansion in Northern Health, a new northwest outpatient withdrawal management (NOW) team is launching on Haida Gwaii in late summer 2026. The NOW Team will help people access outpatient withdrawal management services in their home.

“This initiative demonstrates the strength of our partnerships and our shared accountability to improve access to substance-use services in the northwest,” said Colleen Nyce, board chair, Northern Health. “Expanding outpatient withdrawal management supports people to receive care in their own communities, in ways that are more responsive and culturally grounded.”

Expanding supports for Indigenous communities is part of government’s work to build a comprehensive system of mental-health and substance-use care. This includes 3,785 publicly funded substance-use beds that support people with addictions, of which 829 treatment and recovery beds are new since 2017, launching the Opioid Treatment Access Line, and opening Foundry youth centres and First Nations healing facilities.

Quotes:

Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for mental health and addictions –

“Having access to treatment and recovery services close to home is critical, especially for people in rural areas. These beds are an important addition to mental-health and substance-use supports in the region, giving more First Nations people access to culturally safe treatment and healing in their own communities.”

Chief Donald Edgars, Old Massett Village Council –

“Swan House represents an important step in supporting women, families and communities in northern Haida Gwaii through culturally safe, community-led healing. Old Massett Village Council remains committed to creating spaces where women are met with respect, support and a sense of home as they reclaim their wellness. Haw’aa to CMHA BC, First Nations Health Authority, the ministry, Old Massett Village Council staff, and especially to the women whose courage brings this vision to life.”

Chief Billy Yovanovich, Skidegate Band Council –

“We are so fortunate in Skidegate to have Tll Daagwiiyah Naay (make strong house) as our second-phase recovery home. The management team has been very keen to have the facility open and we are very grateful to all who made it happen! Haawa.”

Chief (Kukpi7) Lynn Duckchief, Adams Lake Indian Band –

“Providing mental-health and substance recovery beds within our community will improve our members path of recovery. Cwelcwelt in Secwepemc means, ‘to be well.’ To achieve wellness embraced with cultural and western supports in the community shifts recovery from isolation to recovery surrounded by community and connection. Adams Lake Band is grateful to partner on this program for the reclamation and healing on our Cwelcwelt journey.”

Crystal French, vice-president, regional operations, north region, First Nations Health Authority –

“FNHA congratulates Skidegate on the opening of Tll Daagwiiyah Naay. This important milestone reflects the strength of community leadership and the commitment to supporting wellness through culturally rooted, land- and relationship-based healing. Bringing recovery services closer to home remains a priority for FNHA, and we are honoured to support this community-driven approach to second-stage recovery that helps men reconnect with culture, identity, family and community.”

Quick Facts:

• As of January 2026, there are 3,785 publicly funded substance-use beds in regions throughout the province, including 161 in the Northern Health region and 400 in the Interior Health region.
• Since 2017, government has added 829 new substance-use treatment and recovery beds, 307 of which are administered by CMHA BC. CMHA beds are low-barrier and prioritize access for Indigenous clients.
• Among the 829 new substance-use treatment and recovery beds, an additional 46 are implemented through the Province’s Indigenous Treatment, Recovery and Aftercare program, which was launched through Budget 2023.
• For substance-use care in Northern Health, call 1-604-215-8110 or visit: https://www.northernhealth.ca/services/mental-health-substance-use/services-by-community
• For substance-use care in Interior Health, call 310-6478 or visit: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/sites/default/files/PDFS/mental-health-and-substance-use-centres.pdf

Learn More:

• To learn how B.C. is building a better system of mental-health and substance-use care, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/BetterCare
• To learn more about the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. Division, visit: https://bc.cmha.ca