His loved of the drink controlled his life for the better part of 36 years before he hit rock bottom and entered detox followed by weeks of rehabilitation at the service's residential and day programs in 2013.

"The skills I've learned from doing the work in the residential and then the day program allowed me to say, having a drink isn't going to help, it's only going to make things worse.

"The bent logic of addiction, where I could justify drinking, was flipped on its head, and I could understand the consequences of having a drink."

Mr Corcoran, a qualified engineer, said a combination of therapy and counselling enabled him to understand the scientific and psychological reasoning behind his behaviour, helping him navigate financial and relationship struggles triggered by his habit.

"My first stop for everything was to have a drink and it made me think, what if I have that drink? What then, what then, what then?"

He's one of many recovering addicts who would have benefited from Directions ACT's premises in Bruce, which now features improved facilities for clients who access therapeutic group sessions and drug and alcohol counselling.

A new private space is set to boost the capital's capacity to provide treatment to people battling addictions and mean individual and group education sessions to be carried out away from the main residence.

Mr Corcoran said the older set-up meant many of the activities and treatment happened in the same space, which was "not ideal". The new design enabled clients to separate their treatment work and leisure time.

Health Minister Simon Corbell opened the new area on Tuesday and said the addition could mean the number of clients who accessed the day program on offer would double as demand for the service continued to grow.

"At a time when more people are seeking treatment for methamphetamine related issues it is particularly important for our community that we increase capacity at centres such as this."

Directions ACT chief executive Fiona Trevelyan said the changes would free up space and add a bed for people primarily battling ice addictions, who made up close to 40 per cent of admissions, and who often needed longer periods of time to detox.

The freshened up facilities would make a huge difference for staff and addicts who took the "courageous" step to seek treatment, Ms Trevelyan said.

It also meant there would not be residents, workers or visitors traipsing through intense, private and emotional therapy and counselling sessions, which had previously been held in a more public and shared part of the house.

"Historically, very often people with issues with drugs or alcohol have had to deal with the hand-me-downs which can be depressing.

"To have something that's new, that's clean, that's bright, that's purpose-built to meet their needs, is actually very affirming.

"It says they have value, they have worth."