Addiction recovery hampered by wait times

Lloydminster’s addiction recovery programs face rising demand and long wait lists.

This is according to Tyler Lorenz, executive director of Residents in Recovery. Lorenz highlighted the critical need for pre- and post-treatment support.

Pre-treatment services play a vital role by helping individuals prepare for intensive recovery, teaching coping skills and reducing relapse risk. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, providing a safe space before treatment can stabilize patients, support sobriety, and improve success rates.

Without a pre-treatment program, Lorenz says many struggle to maintain sobriety before they reach a stable recovery program.

Lorenz pointed out the Saskatchewan Government hasn’t invested in pre-treatment services.

"It’s almost impossible to keep pre-treatment people clean until their treatment bed opens ... Saskatchewan is not putting any resources into pre-treatment ...they’ve made that abundantly clear," stressed Lorenz.

He says Alberta offers limited pre-treatment options, but most of the resources available are in larger cities.

Lorenz says there's a risk when people go to larger cities for treatment.

"If you’re from Lloydminster and go to Edmonton for a year, you lose all local connections ... it's a huge risk," he said.

Residents in Recovery currently has a queue of 53 people seeking sober living services. Lorenz explained that most individuals on the list are post-treatment, needing support after leaving detox, incarceration, or the streets.

"Currently, we have one house for men and one for women," Lorenz said.

In addition, the long timeframe for follow-up care in the community is a problem. Due to high demand, individuals wait between four and eight months to join sober living, increasing their risk of relapse.

"We’re sending them to detox, but they come back with nowhere to go," said Lorenz. "There’s probably about 10 people coming from places like Thorpe or incarceration."

“You have to integrate recovery into their day-to-day life," Lorenz noted.

He says recovery should happen within one’s community to build sustainable support networks. Lorenz believes it gives individuals the best chance to succeed if they are in their hometown. Additionally, he pointed out Lloydminster has a strong recovery community, which supports local reintegration.

Lorenz wants the community to know there are success stories in the community. Part of their mission is to help reduce the stigma surrounding recovery.

“If people want to take some of the negative and turn it into a positive, we’re willing to help them share their stories,” Lorenz said.

He notes they make a lot of social media posts in an attempt to change the stigma around addiction.

Residents in Recovery continues to push for more resources, hoping to close critical gaps in Lloydminster's addiction recovery services.