Alcohol & Drug Rehab Programs & Services

ALCOHOL AND DRUG DETOX SERVICES

ARRIVING AT OUR ALCOHOL AND DRUG DETOX

Upon arrival at Sunshine Coast, our nursing staff will promptly admit you to our 4-bed medical detox. Having detox services on-site allows timely admission for clients requiring immediate medical care instead of waiting for a client to be clean from drugs and sober from alcohol beforehand.

Within 24 hours, you will be examined by our Medical Director. During your examination, medications will be reviewed and a determination will be made whether you are ready to be discharged from the detox and moved upstairs to your room in residence. While in detox, integration with the peer community is permitted and encouraged.

Once stable, a medical, social, chemical and mental health history is obtained from each client to help generate a recovery plan best suited to their individual needs.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT OUR ALCOHOL AND DRUG DETOX

At Sunshine Coast Health Center, we understand your arrival at our alcohol and drug detox can be an anxious time. You have more questions than answers and you really don't know what to expect. Our nursing staff appreciates your apprehension and is committed to making you feel comfortable the moment you arrive.

If you have been consuming excessive amounts of drugs or alcohol, you have the right to expect that your time in detox will be monitored by capable medical professionals. The first person you meet when you arrive will be the Nursing Supervisor who will immediately begin attending to your physical and mental health.

WHY WE HAVE A DRUG DETOX

While drug and alcohol treatment centers can function without having detox services, clients at Sunshine Coast soon come to appreciate the benefit of having an onsite detoxification unit, especially when medical professionals are involved. Benefits include immediate admission since Sunshine Coast does not require "clean time" before entering treatment. Furthermore, clients appreciate the slower pace in medical detox which allows time to rest and consult with medical staff before transitioning into the demands of group therapy.

While in detox, many of our clients learn that they have medical conditions brought on by years of neglect or risky behaviour. While the diagnosis of disease is never easy, medical staff is here to provide comfort and education so that clients can begin to make positive changes in lifestyle to help manage their conditions.

INFORMATION GATHERING IS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN DETOX

While you get comfortable, your nurse will need to confirm your medical, substance use and treatment history originally recorded on the Client Admission Form. Based on your nutritional needs and dietary preferences your nurse will formulate a nutritional plan and advise kitchen staff ¹. 

A nurse will then check your weight and take your vital signs. You will also be asked to provide a urine sample to help nursing staff determine what drugs are in your system and a breathalyzer to determine blood alcohol content.

This information will help the Nursing Supervisor create a detox care plan will help nursing staff reduce the discomfort you may experience during withdrawal from your drug of choice.

(1) Note: Sunshine Coast Health Center does not have a halal- or kosher-approved kitchen. Therefore, food purchasing or preparation practices of these faiths are not observed. However, clients may substitute pork or beef dishes for another meat or vegetarian dish.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO A SAFE DETOX AND TREATMENT FACILITY

Part of feeling safe in drug detox and treatment means not having to worry that drugs or alcohol are being consumed or sold by staff or peers during your stay in drug rehabilitation. For the protection of you and your peers, all bags and belongings accompanying clients will be searched, and clients will be asked to turn their coat and pant pockets inside out. Any open cigarette packs will be checked. All open bottles will be confiscated and destroyed. If you are bringing prescribed medications please ensure it is kept in original prescription packaging.
Although this may appear to be a lack of trust in clients just arriving in detox, it is really for your protection.

Be assured that you will NOT be subject to cavity or skin searches, or pat-downs. We recognize that if someone is determined enough they will find a way to smuggle drugs or alcohol into the facility. Sunshine Coast Health Center is a detox and treatment center, not a lock-down facility. We are committed to a safe treatment environment while maintaining your dignity and trust.

WE NEED YOUR PERMISSION BEFORE ALCOHOL & DRUG DETOXIFICATON CAN BEGIN

A Consent for Treatment form is reviewed with every client which gives medical staff permission to provide you with the care you need. If you have concerns about providing consent for treatment please let us know before your scheduled admission.

All other paperwork will immediately follow or can be delayed until your medical condition stabilizes sufficiently to proceed.

WHILE YOU ARE SLEEPING IT OFF IN DETOX .

While you are sleeping it in off in detox our nursing staff is busy monitoring your vital signs to ensure your withdrawal from alcohol and/or drugs is proceeding safely. The body handles the excretion of alcohol and other drugs in different ways so nurses follow guidelines (also known as withdrawal protocols) that are matched to the substances you have ingested prior to your admission. To help prevent respiratory infections, a nurse may reposition you while you are in a prone position. Nurses will also monitor fluid levels and may wake you for a water break.

MEDICATIONS USED IN DETOXIFICATION CAN PROVIDE COMFORT BUT CAN ALSO BE ADDICTIVE

Any medications currently subscribed to you will be reviewed by our Medical Director for any potential side effects that may complicate your stay in medical detoxification and residential treatment.

Nursing staff are dedicated to keeping you comfortable. Non-narcotic protocols are adhered to in detox and throughout your stay at the Center. We understand our role in partnering with you in your recovery and are sensitive to your struggles with mood-altering substances, including prescription medications.

Please contact Admissions toll-free at 1-866-487-9010 if you have concerns about medications or other concerns about your stay in detox.

THE ROLE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN WHILE IN MEDICAL DETOX

Within 24 to 36 hours of admission, clients are examined by the Medical Director who will be your physician during your stay at Sunshine Coast Health Center. You will be provided a physical exam and assessment to determine your ability to provide self-care. Until such time, nurses will continue to monitor your condition.

Your doctor is responsible for determining when it is an appropriate time to transfer you and your belongings to the men's residence upstairs. Your doctor is committed to your wellbeing so feel free to let him know if you have any questions about your medical condition or our medical detox program.

IF YOU WANT TO QUIT SMOKING

If quitting smoking is something you would like to start during your treatment stay, please let our medical staff know when you arrive in detox. We will support you in your efforts by providing you with a nicotine replacement program and monitor your progress as you go smoke-free.

WE ARE PROUD OF OUR MEDICAL TEAM

Sunshine Coast Health Center is proud of the care we provide in our drug and alcohol detox. We offer private duty nursing that is no longer available in most hospitals. Many of our clients report being surprised at the amount of time our doctor spends getting to know and better understand our clients.

DETOX IS MORE THAN JUST HELPING YOU GET ON YOUR FEET

Medical staff at Sunshine Coast Health Center recognizes that your commitment to recovery began when you first picked up the phone and called us for help. Treating your physical withdrawal symptoms in detox will now make room for treating your psychological dependence on substances. We are committed to laying a foundation of trust so important in allowing us to partner with you on your journey towards a lasting recovery.

Even after you are transfer out of detox to the residential program nursing staff is available for ongoing consultation during the remainder of your stay at Sunshine Coast Health Center.

FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ON DETOX

We hope this page has answered your questions directed specifically at the medical detoxification program at Sunshine Coast Health Center. For general information on alcohol and drug detox, refer to the Detox Facts section.  

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Sunshine Coast Health Center is a provincially-approved drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility licensed by VCH

Sunshine Coast Health Center is an accredited health care provider with Accreditation Canada