Home / Health / Winnipeg Opens 72-Hour Sobering Centre Amidst Controversy
Winnipeg Opens 72-Hour Sobering Centre Amidst Controversy
2 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A new 20-room facility can detain intoxicated individuals for up to three days.
- The centre is for those exhibiting psychosis or posing a risk due to drug use.
- Critics argue the facility criminalizes addiction and traumatizes vulnerable people.
A new protective care centre, allowing for up to 72-hour detentions of intoxicated individuals, has officially opened in Winnipeg. This 20-room facility, operated by Main Street Project, will house individuals exhibiting mental health symptoms or posing significant risks due to long-lasting drug use, as well as those intoxicated by alcohol.
The centre's opening follows the passage of Bill 48, which extended detention limits from 24 to 72 hours. Each room is equipped with a toilet, sink, video surveillance, and an intercom, with plans to double the capacity in the future. The provincial government indicated that similar centres could be established in other cities like Brandon and Thompson.
However, the facility has drawn criticism, with opponents likening it to jail and expressing concerns that it criminalizes addiction and could lead to further trauma for vulnerable populations. Despite these objections, the centre is now operational and accepting individuals.
