Fresh Start Addiction Treatment Program

Your support has helped Fresh Start maintain a high standard of care throughout the Pandemic over the past 16 months.

In 2019, Fresh Start served 167 people in our award-winning, 12 Step drug and alcohol addiction treatment program and in 2020, we were able to help 149 people - only 18 fewer people.

 This number is astounding considering that Covid-19 protocol on entry and detox had to be completely revamped to a system whereby detox was extended from a period of fewer than 5 days to a 14 day wait as detox was effectively converted to a quarantine period to ensure that new people entering Fresh Start would not expose the existing clients to Covid-19.

At the same time, the demand for services has increased dramatically. At the time of the printing of the 2020 Annual Report (April of 2021), the wait list had grown by almost 36% to 163 people and that number was dramatically lower than the Covid high of over 200 people on the wait list.

A February 2021 study by Ipsos highlighted how Canadians were struggling with addiction as follows:

The study says “Sixteen per cent (16%) of Canadians report they find themselves struggling with addiction issues such as alcohol or drugs, more than they did before the pandemic. That number is most acute among younger Canadians aged 18-34, where close to a quarter (24%) say they are struggling with addiction issues. Middle aged Canadians (35-54) also report challenges as two in ten (20%) say they are struggling with addiction issues. There are no significant variations by region, gender or by those who have kids at home.

The national number for those who report struggling with addiction is relatively unchanged since November (19% in November compared to 16% in February), but men (24% in November compared to 18% in February) and those with kids at home (25% in November compared to 19% in February) appear to be faring better now than they were before. Nonetheless, a significant portion of the population in certain groups appear to be facing down not only COVID-19 and the anxieties and mental health challenges that come with it, but also issues around dependency that may persist after the pandemic.”

Thanks to you and your support, GlobalGiving recently entrusted $20,000 USD to Fresh Start to continue to help people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic with our 46% greater capacity as a result of acquiring a second treatment facility in Souhern Alberta in November of 2020.

Fresh Start and the people we serve are truly grateful for the direct and indirect support that you have helped to make possible.

Regards,

Wayne Steer

Director of Fund development