A staff shortage at the Northern Health authority's only residential drug treatment program has temporarily forced the facility to shut its doors, according to internal memos obtained by CBC News.

The 10-bed, 30-day residential treatment program for drugs and alcohol at the Nechako Treatment Centre in Prince George, B.C., was shut down on July 4 without any public announcement.

When contacted by the CBC, Northern Health called the closure unfortunate, but the regional director of addiction services, Jim Campbell, said the month-long treatment program is not an urgent service.

"It would be good if it was there as part of the continuum, but we do have other services that provide almost that same level of care and provide that in other communities," he said.

At least six staff members are required to run the program and the team leader is currently on leave, said Campbell. He said he hopes the treatment program will re-open in the fall, but no date has been set.

"It's unfortunate … but it has been closed before, due to either staffing shortages or coverage," Campbell said.

Northern Health's Prince George non-residential withdrawal unit and the Nechako Youth Treatment Program remain open for the summer. There are also aboriginal-focused treatment programs in Kitimat and Williams Lake, and people can also be sent out of the region for treatment.

Another privately funded addiction treatment program run by MLA Lorne Mayencourt has been operating out of some former army barracks near Prince George.

With files from Betsy Trumpener