Six new inpatient addiction beds for youth will be opening up in southern Saskatchewan.

 The Ministry of Health and the Saskatchewan Health Authority are still working to determine where in southern Saskatchewan the six new inpatient addiction beds for youth will be located. 

 The new beds are a part of $8.39 million in funding that will be used to create more than 140 new beds to treat individuals with mental health and addiction challenges. 

 There will be 75 new residential support beds for individuals with intensive mental health needs who are transitioning from the hospital back into the community, 50 new pre-addiction and post-addiction treatment beds are opening opened up for individuals who are transitioning between detox and inpatient treatment or back to the community. 

 With the additional addiction treatment beds announced in the 2019-20 budget, including the 16 adult beds, six youth beds and approximately 50 pre- and post-treatment beds, the total will rise to 428 beds.   

 This is an increase of 57% since 2007 when there were 273 beds. 

 The 2019-2020 estimated budget for mental health and addiction services is $402 million, a record investment.