With the large number of opioid-related deaths and hospitalizations in Canada, as well as the increasingly contaminated drug supply, there is a clear need for expansions in access to services and supports for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). There are two common residential treatment programs: residential addiction treatment programs and residential supportive recovery programs. The programs differ slightly in the services they offer and overall, are not standardized, leading to variations in accessibility, services offered, pricing, and how evidence-based treatments such as Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) are provided. To address the lack of standardization in residential treatment programs for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs), a total of 102 residential addiction treatment programs and 36 residential supportive recovery programs were analyzed.
METHODS
Information was collected on the following:
- location
- program description and type
- client eligibility criteria
- target population
- program policies for Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT)
- the number of beds available
- minimum and maximum length of stay
- wait times
- funding source
- fees for program administration
RESULTS
There is a large variation in the geographic distribution of residential treatment programs.
Regional variations were identified in the following:
- program availability
- wait times
- inconsistencies in OAT policies
Some programs tailored to unique populations, however, there is a lack of programs tailored to women, youth, and Indigenous peoples. | 
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CONCLUSION
There are clear gaps among offerings and availability of residential treatment programs across Ontario, and a lack of standardization on OAT policies.