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- calendar_today November 10, 2026
Calls for Expanded Drug Treatment in Nova Scotia
Some Nova Scotia residents and drug users are voicing frustration with the province's current addiction treatment programs. They say that available withdrawal management options, which often only function during daytime hours, leave those with more severe addictions exposed and without needed support overnight. These individuals and some health professionals are advocating for increased availability of longer-term and inpatient treatment options across the province.
Shortcomings of Daytime-Only Withdrawal Management
Virginia Costiff, who moved to Sydney, N.S., eight years ago from southern Ontario to escape severe addiction, credits her recovery to leaving her previous environment. However, she believes she succeeded in spite of, rather than because of, the treatment options available in Nova Scotia. Costiff maintains her sobriety from opioids but continues to participate in outpatient treatment, acknowledging periodic cocaine use. She points out a critical flaw in current daytime withdrawal management programs: "It doesn't work because you go home and home is where it's toxic… you gotta be away from your people, places and things at least for a week."
Limited Inpatient Resources
Across Nova Scotia, there are twelve recovery support centres and twenty-two opioid recovery program clinics, but these only operate during the day and close at night. By contrast, the province operates just 31 inpatient withdrawal management beds: eight at Cape Breton Regional Hospital, ten at All Saints Hospital in Springhill, and thirteen at Dartmouth General Hospital. Many people in Sydney and beyond say these resources are insufficient for those requiring round-the-clock support during the most critical stages of recovery.
Healthcare Professionals Advocate for Change
Dr. Dave Martell, physician lead for Nova Scotia Health's mental health and addiction program, notes that the medical community now recognizes the need for more flexible care models. He stresses the importance of engaging people in care that addresses social and psychological issues alongside substance use. Recovery support centres do not require referrals, and their teams include doctors, nurses, social workers, and counsellors. Despite these services, not enough people seem to access them. Dr. Elizabeth Fleming, who formerly worked at the North Sydney recovery support centre, reported seeing far fewer patients in Nova Scotia compared to her experience in the U.S., leading her to leave the public sector for private practice. "We are doctors, we want to take care of patients and that's not happening," Fleming said.
Client Experiences and Data
Documents provided by Dr. Fleming revealed she only billed about four percent of her annual salary at the recovery centre, despite a contract expectation of about 60 percent. Dr. Martell clarified that the billing target is not enforced at recovery centres, and that client volumes are higher at some facilities than others. Data shows that 2,001 clients accessed recovery support centres from January to June 2026, representing a 20 percent increase over the same period in the previous year. Despite greater spending—almost $1 billion on mental health and addictions over three years—calls for more comprehensive service delivery continue.
Environment and Program Structure Concerns
The location and open hours of centres also affect engagement. Dr. Fleming reported some patients were uncomfortable with the North Sydney recovery centre's strip mall entrance, and noted that its 12-hour daily operations work well for mild addictions but not for more severe cases. She advocated for more advanced care options, such as intensive outpatient programs and 28-day inpatient rehabs. She and others are concerned that people returning home each evening remain at risk of relapse due to triggering environments.
Looking to the Future
Nova Scotia Health’s opioid recovery program provides substances like methadone to those with moderate to severe opioid use disorder. Dr. Martell stated a vision for expanded and comprehensive care: "My vision for the future is that we have something to offer as a public health system at all points along the spectrum of care for people living with substance-use disorders, including care in a hospital environment and in a treatment facility when these levels of care are required."
Related coverage
Source: cbc.ca.
