The Edmonton Young Offender Centre will be the home of the Northern Alberta Recovery Centre and will feature 105 new youth addictions treatment beds.Photo by Ian Kucerak/Postmedia

EXCLUSIVE: Alberta to open 105-bed youth addictions facility at Edmonton jail

The facility will be housed at Edmonton's youth corrections centre

by · National Post

EDMONTON — Alberta will spend $23 million to renovate a section of Edmonton’s jail for young offenders to create an addictions treatment facility, more than doubling the province’s capacity to treat youth with addictions.

The Alberta government is expected to make the announcement Tuesday.

The facility will be called the Northern Alberta Recovery Centre and will be housed at the Edmonton Young Offenders Centre. It will create 105 new youth addictions treatment beds. At present, there are 70 beds for youth with addictions in Alberta, and the addition of the new beds — expected to come online in 2026 — will bring the total to 175.

Architect behind Alberta's drug strategy warns B.C. not to rush involuntary treatmentWhen Alberta introduces legislation next spring that will allow drug addicts to be forced into treatment, it will be the culmination of years of preparation and study, and, according to its architect, may well provide a roadmap to politicians in British Columbia, who are looking to change the way they approach the nexus of drug addiction, mental health and social disorder.Tyler Dawson, 21 Sep 2024Involuntary treatment of drug addicts the Alberta election issue the rest of Canada is watchingAlberta is entering election season, and an unlikely issue could prove crucial: The United Conservative Party’s plan to force chronic drug addicts into treatment, a bold but controversial measure that could have resonance for provinces across the country struggling with street violence and disorder.Tristin Hopper, 29 Apr 2023