The Ontario government is investing $2.5 million through the new Addictions Recovery Fund to enhance access to addictions treatment supports at Monarch Recovery Services, located in Sudbury.
Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Michael Tibollo, says the funding will provide access to a total of 15 new addictions treatment beds and help people in the surrounding region access specialized addictions treatment.
He says the service offers addiction services and supports for Ontarians aged 16 and over including recovery, treatment, and aftercare programs.
Tibollo points out studies have shown that opioid-related deaths surged by 79 percent during the first two waves of the pandemic, with rates being three times higher in Northern Ontario.
To meet the demand for treatment, the new Addictions Recovery Fund will support almost 400 new addictions treatment beds across the province, helping to stabilize and provide care for approximately 7,000 clients per year. This includes clients in northern, rural and Indigenous communities. Addictions Recovery Fund investments in other addictions services and supports across the province include:
Six new Youth Wellness Hubs offering developmentally tailored primary care and mental health and addictions treatment for youth ages 12 to 25;
Two new Mobile Mental Health Clinics to provide a full suite of mental health and addictions services directly to individuals living in remote, rural and underserved communities;
Three new police-partnered Mobile Crisis Response Teams to support individuals in a mental health or addictions crisis;
Support for Indigenous-led land-based healing services; and
Additional community supports include day/evening intensive treatment, mild to moderate intensive treatment, and after-care programs.