People living in the Alberni Valley and surrounding West Coast communities will soon have expanded access to addiction recovery services close to home following the opening of eight new substance-use beds.

The British Columbia government, in partnership with Island Health, announced the launch of eight supportive recovery and stabilization beds at the Inlet Recovery Home in Port Alberni. The 24-hour service is scheduled to begin accepting clients in late summer 2026.

Every person's path through addiction, treatment and recovery is different, and it is rarely a straight line," Health Minister Josie Osborne said in a release. "I know how important it is for people experiencing addictions in the Alberni Valley to be able to get help close to home."

Operated by non-profit service provider Connective, the home will provide bed-based care typically lasting between 30 and 90 days. Programming will focus on goal setting, daily life skills, and wellness to prepare clients for reintegration into the community.

Up until now, residents in the area often had to travel outside their local region to access bed-based stabilization and treatment options.

The initiative is part of B.C.'s Road to Recovery model. According to the province, B.C. currently funds more than 3,800 substance-use beds, including 879 treatment and recovery beds added since 2017.