Toronto Detox
Toronto Withdrawal Management Services (Detox)
Welcome to the Toronto 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 alcohol and drug detoxification services in Toronto, Ontario.
Do You Need Treatment? Do You Need Detox?
People often confuse the term ‘detox’ with ‘treatment’ so let’s clarify what both terms mean. Detox means dealing with the physical aspects of consuming too much drugs or alcohol. The length of stay in a typical Toronto detox is overnight to 7 days. Many clients are discharged after one overnight stay because there is so much demand for beds in a typical Toronto detox bed. In other words, once a hospital or detox determines you are no longer medically at risk you may be discharged.
Treatment is different that detox. Initial residential treatment typically lasts several weeks to several months and focuses primarily on the psychological aspects of addiction. Sober living (aka support recovery) is a form of treatment that involves treatment stays of 6 months to several years and is intended to help people transition to independent living after initial treatment.
Toronto 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. Many clients from Toronto choose our program because of we can promptly admit clients and not require any clean time beforehand. 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 Toronto are No Charge
It is important to note that there is no charge for detox at the programs list below. If you are a resident of Ontario and have an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card you are covered.
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.
Central Referral Lines for Toronto Detox Programs and Online Nursing Support
Withdrawal management (“detox”) services are available upon self or health provider referral. The Toronto Withdrawal Management Services System central access number (1-866-366-9513) is your connection to day, community and residential withdrawal management services. Centres provide non-medical withdrawal services; medications will not be prescribed.
For telephone nursing support when experiencing discomfort due to withdrawal from drugs or alcohol, contact Telehealth Ontario. Based on information provided, a Registered Nurse can either advise self care, recommend a visit to a health practitioner or provide the phone numbers of community resources. This is a free, confidential telephone service.
Adult Toronto Detox Programs
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has an 18-bed medical detox. All clients are monitored by medically trained staff. Clients can self-refer between 8am -2pm Monday – Friday. No admissions on weekends or public holidays.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
3rd floor – 60 White Squirrel Way
Toronto, ON M4G 3Z1
Phone: (416) 535-8501 ext. 36071
Toll-Free: 1(800) 463-2338 ext. 6616
Website: www.camh.ca/en/hospital/care_program_and_services/addiction_programs/Pages/guide_medwithdrawal_service.aspx
Clients at Bridgewood Chemical Dependency Program are monitored by medically trained staff. There are 11 beds in the psychiatric care unit that are for acute withdrawal.
Humber River Regional Hospital
Bridgewood Chemical Dependency Program
Elective Inpatient Withdrawal Program
2175 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M6M 3Z4
Phone:(416) 658-2029
Website: www.hrh.ca/MentalHealthProgram
St. Joseph’s Health Centre has a non-medical detox, so clients must be sufficiently stable prior to admission. Contact this program to determine suitability. For mild to moderate symptoms, St. Joseph’s also provides home detox where clients can access telephone support with a professionally trained staff person while going through withdrawal at home. Clients must be referred through Access Central. There are 26 beds for detox 7 male crisis beds, 3 women crisis beds, and 16 beds for withdrawal management.
St. Joseph’s Health Centre
Withdrawal Management Service
30 The Queensway
Toronto, ON M6R 1B5
Phone: (416) 530-6400 (residential detox)
Phone: (416) 530-8000 ext. 6141 (home detox)
Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 (GTA Access Central)
Website: www.stjoe.on.ca/programs/mental/addiction.php
St. Michael’s Hospital has a non-medical detox. Contact this program to determine suitability. Restricted to men 16 years of age and older. For mild to moderate symptoms, St. Joseph’s also provides home detox where clients can access telephone support with a professionally trained staff person while going through withdrawal at home. This is a non-smoking detox.
St. Michael’s Hospital
Withdrawal Management Services
135 Sherbourne Street
Toronto, ON M5A 2R5
Phone: (416) 864-5874 (home detox)
Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 (Access Central)
Phone: (416) 864-5040 (Access Central)
Website: www.stmichaelshospital.com/
The Toronto East General Hospital has a 30 bed non-medical detox. Contact this program to determine suitability. This program is exclusively for males 16 and older. Also provides home detox for men and women whereby medically trained professionals provide telephone or in-office support for clients who show mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms. Clients self-refer through the hospital or are referred through Access Central.
Toronto East General Hospital
Withdrawal Management Centre
985 Danforth Avenue
Toronto, ON M4J 1M1
Phone: (416) 461-2010 (hospital detox)
Phone: (416) 461-2189 (home detox)
Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 (Access Central)
Website: www.tegh.on.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-24-5534
The Aboriginal Day Services program has a home detox with support and monitoring provided by a withdrawal management staff person. Clients are assisted with withdrawal symptoms on an outpatient basis.
Toronto East General Hospital
Aboriginal Day Services
454 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 1W9
Phone: (416) 461-0800 (direct)
Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 (Access Central)
Website: www.tegh.on.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-24-5534
The Ossington Men’s Withdrawal Management Centre has non-medical staff so clients must be sufficiently stable prior to admission. Contact this program to determine suitability. This 21 bed program is exclusively for males 16 and older. Clients must be referred through Access Central.
University Health Network
Ossington Men’s Withdrawal Management Centre
16 Ossington Avenue
Toronto, ON M6J 2Y7
Phone: (416) 533-7945 (Direct)
Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 (GTA – Access Central)
Website: www.uhn.ca/About_UHN/programs/MCC/mental_health_addictions.asp
The Women’s Own Withdrawal Management Centre has non-medical staff so please contact this program to determine suitability. This program is exclusively for women ages 16 and older. Also provides home detox for men and women whereby medically trained professionals provide telephone or in-office support for clients who show mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms. This is a non-smoking facility, clients who are smokers will have to contact their physician to get on a nicotine cessation program prior to admission. Clients must be referred through Access Central.
University Health Network
Women’s Own Withdrawal Management Centre
892 Dundas Street W
Toronto, ON M6J 1W1
Phone: (416) 603-1462 (Direct)
Phone: (416) 603-2551 (home detox)
Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 (Access Central)
Website: www.uhn.ca/About_UHN/programs/MCC/mental_health_addictions.asp
Youth Toronto Detox Programs
Please note that some of the detox programs listed above in the adult Toronto detox section accept patients that are 16 and older: St. Michael’s General Hospital, Toronto East General Hospital, Ossington Men’s Withdrawal Management Centre and Women’s Own Withdrawal Management Centre.
Toronto Home Detox Programs
Please refer to the adult Toronto detox programs section. Several programs listed there have direct lines to access home detox.
Detox Programs Located Outside Toronto, Within Ontario
For a list of detox programs listed in Ottawa visit www.ottawadetox.com . For a list of detox programs listed in the rest of Ontario see the Ontario medical programs page in canadadrugrehab.ca.
Private Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs
Toronto does not currently have a private, detox-only program. However, for those who only want a short-term medical detoxification program, www.sunshinecoasthealthcentre.ca, which is located in British Columbia, offers a 5-day drug and alcohol detoxification program. For more information call toll-free 1(866) 487-9010 or e-mail info@schc.ca.
