BC Detox

BC Withdrawal Management Services (Detox)

British Columbia Detox
Welcome to the BC detoxification page. Typically, when individuals or their family members are looking for detox resources they are in crisis. With crisis bring confusion. Where can I get help? How fast can I get in? This page will help you navigate detoxification programs in British Columbia.

Detox services are designed to stabilize individuals who have consumed mood-altering substances to toxic levels. Since going “cold turkey” from alcohol or drugs can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms and can result in potentially life-threatening medical complications, around the clock supervision by trained medical staff is recommended.

The length of stay in an alcohol and drug detox program can vary between 3 to 7 days but, typically, are two or 3 days. Longer stays in detox may be required if opioids or alcohol are involved or if there are other medical conditions. During detox, little or no counselling is provided to the client.

Do You Need Treatment? Do You Need Detox?
We get a lot of calls from people that confuse the term ‘detox’ with ‘treatment’ so let’s clarify what both words mean. Detox means dealing with the physical aspects of consuming too much drugs or alcohol. The length of stay in a typical Vancouver detox is overnight to 7 days. Most clients are discharged after one overnight stay because there is so much demand for beds in a typical Vancouver detox.

Treatment, on the other hand, focuses on the psychological aspects of addiction. Treatment can last several weeks to several months if it is primary treatment. Primary treatment is more intensive with more clinical staff. Another form of residential treatment called support recovery or sober living has a length of stay of six months to several years but does not offer as much clinical support. The process is as follows: detox to primary treatment to sober living.

British Columbia Detoxes Don’t Address the Psychological Aspects of Addiction
The majority of detoxes don’t provide counselling or talk therapy. If you are looking for a program that addresses the psychological aspects of drug addiction or alcoholism consider residential treatment. Our addiction program, Sunshine Coast Health Center, is a short 25 minute flight from Vancouver and admissions can be scheduled within a few days. Sunshine Coast also has a medical detox so no clean/sober time is required prior to admission. For more information contact our Admissions Coordinator toll-free at 1(866) 487-9010, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or go to our Contact Us page to send us an email.

Most Detoxes in British Columbia are Free of Charge
It is important to note that there is no charge for detox at the programs list below as long as you are a resident of British Columbia and have a Medical Services Plan (MSP) card.

Don’t Detox Alone
Think again if you are considering detoxing alone at home. Detoxing from alcohol or from a combination of alcohol and other drugs (particularly prescription drugs) can be life-threatening. When travelling to a detox take a cab, a bus, or get a ride from a sober friend or family member. If your admission to alcohol detoxification is delayed consider small sips of alcohol rather than going cold turkey during the hours leading up to your detox admission. For more information on withdrawing from alcohol refer to the following alcohol information page.

There are Different Types of Detox Programs
Detox programs can be one of five varieties:

1. home detox (or daytox) – detoxification done at home which may include a visit from a nurse (see HOME DETOX section below)
2. social (non-medical) detox – detoxification provided in a residential setting but without the assistance of a nurse or physician (*)

3. medical detox – detoxification provided in a residential setting with the assistance of a nurse and physician. May be combined with residential treatment or as a separate service.

4. hospital detox – medical detoxification provided in an inpatient (hospital) setting

5. rapid detox – detox performed under anaesthesia by an addiction medicine specialist on an outpatient basis. Performed on individuals requiring opiate detoxification. This program is not covered by provincial insurance. See New Westminster Detox Programs below for a rapid detox provider.

Some residential treatment centers (particularly private centers) provide detox as a means of facilitating an admission to their residential program. Patients may not be able to access these detox beds without agreeing to stay for residential treatment (typically 4 to 7 weeks). See the Residential Services section for more information.
(*) Note: technically, social detox is not actually a medical service since medical personnel do not monitor the patient.

Central Referral Lines for BC Detox Services and Online Nursing Support
Access Central is for referrals to detox and supportive recovery housing. Access Central is staffed with social workers who can provide on-the-spot counselling and coping strategies. Hours are 9 am to 7:45 pm seven days a week. Messages left on voice mail will be returned the following day.
Access Central
Toll-free: 1(866) 658-1221
Website: https://www.vch.ca/403/7676/?program_id=1856

D-Talks is a toll-free number for youth 12 to 21 requiring detox treatment services. D-Talks is staffed with social workers who can provide on-the-spot counselling and coping strategies. Hours are 9 am to 9 pm seven days a week.
D-Talks Youth Detox Line

Toll-free: 1(866) 658-1221

After hours: (604) 872-4349
Website: http://www.fsgv.ca/programpages/youthservices/youthdetox.html

The BC Nurse Line is staffed with Registered Nurses and provides triage, assessment of symptoms, translation services, call transfer to emergency services (crisis lines, ambulance), and referral to non-emergency programs (detox, outpatient counselling). Nurses also provide inter-rim self-care instructions for individuals who cannot immediately access counselling or medical services such as detox. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
BC Nurse Line
Phone: (604) 215-4700 (Vancouver)
Toll-free: 1(866) 215-4700 or 811
Deaf and Hearing-Impaired: 1(866) 889-4700 or 711
Website: http://find.healthlinkbc.ca/search.aspx?d=SV001032

ADULT DETOX PROGRAMS

Adult Atlin Detox Programs

Atlin Health Centre
Atlin Outpost Hospital
Third Street, Atlin
Phone: (250) 651-7677

Adult Campbell River Detox Programs

Evergreen House has four crisis stabilization beds that serve as social detoxification beds for women. Must be referred to these beds from the crisis nurse at Campbell River General Hospital.
Evergreen House
690 Evergreen Rd.
Campbell River, BC V9W 3R8
Phone: (250) 287-3791 (direct)
Phone: (250) 850-2141 (Intake – Ask to speak to the crisis nurse)

Second Chance has four crisis stabilization beds that also serve as social detoxification beds for men. The intake number above connects to Campbell River General Hospital.
Second Chance Support Recovery
647 Birch St.
Campbell River, BC
Phone: (250) 830-1103 (Direct Line)
Phone: (250) 850-2141 (Intake – ask to speak to the crisis nurse)

Adult Comox / Courtenay Detox Programs

The Substance Abuse Intervention Program provides social detoxification, screening, psychiatric assessment and brief intervention.
Substance Intervention Program
St. Joseph’s General Hospital
2137 Comox Avenue
Comox, BC, V9M 1P2
Phone: (250) 339-1573
Pager: (250) 703-9102

See also the Home Detox program section below.

Adult Cranbrook Detox Programs
See the Home Detox section below.

Adult Dawson Creek Detox Programs

The nearest medical detox in BC for residents of Dawson Creek is located in Prince George. Alternatively, there is Northern Addictions Centre (AADAC) in Grande Prairie, Alberta, phone (780) 538-6300 (24 hours).

Adult Duncan Detox Programs

Applicants must call the numbers provided and speak with the crisis or chemical dependency nurse to determine if acute medical detoxification is indicated. For more information see the Nanaimo section.

To access the medical detox in Nanaimo, Clearview Centre, contact the following phone numbers in Duncan:
Phone: (250) 737-2007 loc. 4272

Crisis Line: (250) 748-1133

Adult Kamloops Detox Programs

Phoenix Centre is a 20 bed facility which provides alcohol and drug medical detoxification for adults 19+. Alternative arrangements will be made for youth 13-18.
Phoenix Centre
922 3rd Avenue
Kamloops, BC V2C 6W5
Phone: (250) 374-4634
Text: (250) 320-0341 (M-F 9 am to 3:30 pm)
Toll-Free: 1(877) 318-1177
Fax: (250) 374-4621
Website: www.phoenixcentre.org
E-Mail: ksad@phoenixcentre.org

Adult Kelowna Detox Programs

Please note Crossroads Treatment Centre will be closing June 30, 2012.
Crossroads Treatment Centre
123 Franklin Road
Kelowna, BC V1X 6A9
Phone: (250) 860-4001
Toll-free 1(866) 860-4001

Adult Nakusp Detox Programs

Arrow Lakes Hospital has a medical detox service.
Arrow & Slocan Lakes Mental Health & Addiction Services
Arrow Lakes Hospital
97 1st Avenue Northeast
Nakusp, BC
Phone: (250) 265-5253

Adult Nanaimo Detox Programs

Clearview Centre (12 beds) has a message line for clients wanting to be assessed for referral, (250) 739-5859. Messages are checked Monday to Friday 8:30 – 4:30, and on weekends call the crisis line or access medical support through their doctor, walk in or ER. Clearview is a non smoking medical detox, operated by the Vancouver Island Health Authority, providing medically supported withdrawal support and referrals to other support services.
Clearview Centre
967 Haliburton Street, Nanaimo
Phone: (250) 739-5891

BC Detox

BC Withdrawal Management Services (Detox)

British Columbia

Looking for treatment?

Get help.

Sunshine Coast Health Centre

Topics