Same-Day Detox Program: Emergency & 24-Hour Drug & Alcohol Detox

Same-day detox treatment may be available. However, this may depend on the patient’s needs, facility capacity, travel logistics, and other factors.

Admissions navigators at AAC can help you or your loved one get help as soon as possible. Call to begin the admissions process at American Addiction Centers (AAC).

A same-day or emergency detox program is a detox program in which a patient can be admitted to treatment the day they begin the admissions process.

Depending on the substance someone has been using and the extent to which they’ve been using, withdrawal may be dangerous without medical supervision. In these cases, patients may require immediate help, which an emergency detox program can provide.

Upon being admitted to a detox program, you will likely begin with an initial evaluation, which may include:¹

• Obtaining a substance use history: This may include questions about what substances the patient used, how often the patient used them, what amount(s) the patient used, and how long it has been since the patient last used them.
• Getting information on any prior detoxes and/or treatments for substance addiction: Whether the patient has gone through withdrawal before and, if so, how many times and what happened, ought to be part of this.
• Laboratory tests: Determining blood alcohol content (BAC), checking breath alcohol levels, and/or urine drug screening may be part of the evaluation. Lab tests may also be used to assess nutritional status and to screen for health problems.
• Physical assessment: Through a physical exam, the patient can be assessed for any health concerns.
• Gathering a history concerning overall health: Questions may include inquiring if the patient has any mental health conditions, any physical health conditions, and/or any allergies, as well as if the patient has had any surgeries and/or has ever had seizures.
• Assessing the person’s current living situation: Assessing living situation may include asking if the patient is homeless, stays in a shelter, or lives with others.
• Evaluating risk of suicide or violence.

Other elements may also be included in an initial evaluation.¹

Once the staff has ascertained the necessary information from this evaluation, they will outline a treatment path. This will likely involve stabilizing the patient with the use of medications for substance use disorder, which can reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.¹

What Do You Need To Get Admitted to Detox the Same Day?

When beginning the admissions process at a same-day detox center, you may be asked to provide:

• The name of your or your loved one’s insurer and insurance policy number.
• Emergency contact information.
• Medical information and substance use history.
• Information about your or your loved one’s living situation.

The length of stay for an inpatient detox program may vary based on the substance used and your individual experiences and needs. Detox may last between 48 hours and weeks.

The average stay in detox at one of our detox facilities is 7-9 days. Complex cases, such as detoxification from certain benzodiazepines (or polysubstance withdrawal involving certain substances), can take 10 days or more.

It is vital that patients continue treatment after detox, because most need continued support to remain in recovery. Spending a minimum of 3 months in treatment is associated with improved outcomes; however, this often may be spread across several levels of addiction treatment. For example, a patient may begin treatment with detox, before transferring to inpatient care, and then to outpatient treatment.

Once stabilized through the detox process, patients will typically enter an inpatient rehab program at the same facility where they will attend therapy and learn techniques for long term recovery. Insurance may also be able to cover all or part of the program depending on your coverage.

There are several factors to consider when determining the appropriate care for your, or a loved ones detoxification, for example:¹

1. Admission to a hospital or another setting that provides 24/7 medical care may generally be preferable for detox for sedative-hypnotic withdrawal, alcohol withdrawal, and opioid withdrawal.
2. It should be a suitable setting for any existing physical or mental health issues.
3. Whether it accepts your insurance. Most insurers are required by law to cover addiction treatment, including detox. However, it’s crucial to find a detox facility that accepts your insurance. Enrolling in a facility that is part of your insurer’s care network typically will have lower costs than one that is out-of-network.
4. Location. Treatment close to home is convenient, but attending treatment in another locality may have advantages too.
5. Amenities. Treatment centers often offer certain amenities (e.g., fitness centers, recreational activities, chef-cooked meals)  that can make the stay in detox or inpatient rehab more comfortable.