Vancouver Detox
Welcome to the Vancouver 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 the detoxification system in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Do You Need Detox or Treatment?
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.
Vancouver Detoxes Don’t Address the Psychological Aspects of Addiction
It is important to note as well that detoxes provide very little 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 residential program, Sunshine Coast Health Center, is a short 25 minute flight from Vancouver and admissions can be scheduled within a few days. 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.
Don’t Detox Alone
Think again if you are considering detoxing 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.
Detox Programs Listed Outside of Vancouver, Within British Columbia
For detox services in Victoria visit www.victoriadetox.com or for detox services in the rest of British Columbia visit the BC medical services page of canadaadrugrehab.ca.
Central Referral Lines for Detox Services in Vancouver
There are a number of detoxes in Vancouver. Sometimes it is easier to call central phone numbers that can determine the best option based on your location and wait lists at the various detoxes. Access Central provides 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 9 pm seven days a week. Messages left on voice mail will be returned the following day.
Access Central
Toll-free: 1(866) 658-1221
The FSGV youth detox is a voluntary-admission program which provides residential alcohol and drug detox and follow-up services for street involved youth between the ages of 13 -21. FSGV also accepts youth with concurrent mental health/addiction issues. Intakes are 9 am – 9pm daily. Available to youth from all points in BC.
Youth Detox – Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV)
Phone: (604) 872-4349
Toll-Free: 1(877) 872-4349
D-Talks: 1(866) 658-1221 ext.1
Website: www.fsgv.ca/programpages/youthservices/youthdetox.html
E-Mail: youthdetox@fsgv.ca
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
Detoxes in Vancouver Are No Charge
If you have a valid Medical Services Plan (MSP) card and live in British Columbia there is no charge to access a Vancouver detox service.
Vancouver Adult Detox Programs
Harbour Light offers medically supported withdrawal, 23 detox beds for adult men and 6 beds for adult women, for a five to seven day detox program for those who have no home or lack the 24-hour support they require to get through the detox process. Serves the North Shore, Richmond, Sunshine Coast, and Vancouver. Office hours are 9am – 9pm.
Harbour Light Detox (Cordova Detox)
Salvation Army
119 East Cordova St.
Vancouver, BC V6A 1K8
Phone: (604) 646-6808 ext. 2
Toll-Free: 1(866) 658-1221 ext. 2
Fax: (604) 646-6840
Website: www.harbourlightbc.com
E-Mail: Use form on the “Contact Us” page of the website
Onsite is a 12 bed detox for adults 19 and older. 12 hour nursing support. Intake hours between 10am – 4 am. Patients must not be going through alcohol or benzodiazepines withdrawal, pregnant, or have a history of seizures.
Onsite Detox
2nd floor – Insite
137 East Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC V6A 1N5
Phone: (604) 687-7483 ext. 3
Fax: (604) 964-7779
Vancouver Detox includes 24 beds, has a physician available every day and offers 24-hour nursing care. This facility is generally used for those requiring medication to get through the detox process. Vancouver Detox also offers Daytox Vancouver which is a 6-week outpatient detox program for adults.
Vancouver Detox
377 East 2nd Ave.
Vancouver, BC V5T 1B9
Phone: (604) 658-1280 (non-admissions calls)
Phone: 1(866) 658-1221 (Access Central – Admissions)
Website: www.vch.ca/403/7676/?program_id=2381
Vancouver Youth Detox Programs
PLEA Youth Detox is a social detox for youth up to 21 years of age. PLEA youth detox is a non-medical service where youth stay with a family trained in detox by PLEA. Referrals are accepted 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Serves youth who reside in New Westminster, Burnaby, Vancouver, Richmond, North Vancouver, Sechelt or Squamish.
PLEA Youth Detox
PLEA Community Services Society of BC
3894 Commercial St.
Vancouver, BC V5N 4G2
Phone: (604) 708-2616
Toll-Free: 1(866) 658-1221 ext.1 (Access Central)
Fax: (604) 871-0408
Website: www.plea.ca/our-services/addiction
E-Mail: youthdetox@plea.bc.ca
Vancouver Home Detox Programs
Some drug users and alcohol abusers prefer to detox at home, with nursing support. Contact the nearest Vancouver Community Health Centre (CHC) location below for Vancouver home detox:
Three Bridges (Business District, Yaletown)
1292 Hornby St.
Phone: (604) 714-3480
The Downtown clinic provides counseling and medical services. Hours are 8:30 am to 8:30 pm daily.
Downtown (East Side)
569 Powell St.
Phone: (604) 255-3151
Grandview Woodland (formerly ‘North’)
1669 E. Broadway
Phone: (604) 675-3980
Pender (Downtown East Side)
59 W. Pender St.
Phone: (604) 669-9181
Sheway provides assistance and counseling to pregnant women in the Downtown Eastside. Support can continue up to 18 months after child birth. Drop-in hours are 11:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Friday.
Sheway (Downtown East Side)
533 E. Hastings St.
Phone: (604) 216-1699
Evergreen is just off Joyce and East 34th Ave.
Evergreen
3425 Crowley Drive
Phone: (604) 707-3620 or (604) 707-3639
Pacific Spirit covers areas west of Oak St. excluding downtown and South Vancouver.
Pacific Spirit
2110 West 43rd Ave.
Phone: (604) 267-3970
Raven Song
2450 Ontario St.
Phone: (604) 709-6400
South Addiction Services hours are 8:30 to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday. Primary care is located at 6495 Knight St., phone (604) 321-6151.
South Addiction Services
920-700 West 57th Ave.
Vancouver, BC V6P 1S1
Phone: (604) 301-3860
Private Vancouver Alcohol and Drug Detox Programs
www.sunshinecoasthealthcentre.ca has a private, 5-day, fee-for-service residential detox. There are four daily flights from the South Terminal to Sunshine Coast Health Center. For more information visit the Fees Schedule page or call toll-free 1(866) 487-9010.
Agora is a private fee-for-service, outpatient-based, naturopathic approach to opiate detoxification. This service is NOT covered by provincial health insurance (MSP).
Agora Regeneration Clinics Ltd.
1004 – 2050 Nelson St.
Vancouver, BC V6G 1N6
Phone: (604) 688 6848
Toll-Free: 1(866) 452-4672
Website: www.agoraforlife.net
E-Mail: info@agoraforlife.net
