Addictions centre for women officially opens in Saint John, N.B.

A new non-residential, non-profit centre designed to provide continuing care for women recovering from addiction has officially opened in Saint John, N.B.

A Tuesday news release from the New Brunswick government says the Sophia Recovery Centre is located in the city's north end.

The province says it provided $485,000 for renovations at the new centre through the Regional Development Corporation.

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“The Sophia Recovery Centre is near and dear to my heart,” said Sherry Wilson, minister responsible for addictions and mental health services. “It is vital that we offer support to those people working hard to turn their lives around and to lend a helping hand to those who are trying to break free from addiction.”

A wall with the names of all those who helped make the new centre a reality are featured as soon as you walk inside the Sophia Recovery Centre.

The province's Department of Health is providing the centre with $595,200 for operations funding this year – an increase of about $100,000.

The expanded space is expected to better serve the needs of the centre’s clients.

“This opening could not come soon enough,” said Julie Atkinson, the centre’s executive director. “We are so thankful to our community for supporting this expansion and renovation.”

The Sophia Recovery Centre first opened in uptown Saint John in 2008.

It has since added locations in St. Stephen and Quispamsis in order to meet growing demand.

"Now what we have in this building is enough space for all of the different kinds of service that women need to be offered simultaneously," said Atkinson.

"It will make a big difference in the way we are able to operate and develop our programs to service many different women and all of their unique circumstances.”

The main lounge in the new Sophia Recovery Centre is pictured in this image taken May 28, 2024.

According to the release, 500 women visited the centre with more than 5,000 appointments made for counselling, peer check-ins and group programs in 2023.

The centre moved into its new location just over a week ago.

Michelle Logan has been going to the centre since 2008 and says she's had amazing experiences each visit.

“Sixteen years ago when I walked through the doors I was a mess. I was a heavy substance abuse user, I was living on the streets, I had lost all my children, I had lost my family and parents," said Logan.

"When Sophia house opened their doors, it created a home. It gave me a safe place to be able to go and spend my days when I was struggling.”

Logan says she is now 11 years sober, something she says wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the Sophia Recovery Centre.

“As everyone knows, substance abuse is a huge problem in our city right now for men and women and having this centre, a large centre, I feel like they will be able to do more," she said.

"It’s such a bigger space that now they are going to be able to fill more needs is how I feel. They will be able to do more programs for women. There couldn’t be a time where I believe the need would be any greater than right now.”

For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.