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24-Hour Same Day Alcohol and Drug Rehab Admission

Authored by Editorial Staff
Table of Contents

Same-Day Rehab Admissions Into an Alcohol or Drug Detox Program Near Me

The need for same-day detox has prompted many drug and alcohol rehab centers to optimize their intake procedures and evaluation processes. This allows them to accept struggling individuals for detox within 24 hours or the next day.1

When someone expresses the need to enroll in rehab as quickly as possible, treatment facilities try their best to make that happen since waiting can cause the patient to change their mind and give up on treatment. They might feel differently as soon as the next day. People with substance abuse issues tend to be anxious about entering treatment, so the longer they wait for rehab admissions, the more likely it is that they will give up.1,2

Another important aspect of same-day detox is that quick admission could save someone’s life, since withdrawal symptoms can, in some cases, be life-threatening.3 This is why emergency 24-hour detox might be available. When somebody requests emergency admission, they’re also typically evaluated for 24-hour supervision..3 

Unfortunately, people often leave detox without further addiction treatment which is crucial for achieving lasting abstinence. Only 20% of people discharged from acute care proceed further, into SUD treatment, and only 15% of patients who require emergency detox go on to receive treatment after being discharged.3

Prerequisites for Same-Day Admissions Into Rehab

When someone requests same-day drug detox, the medical staff assesses their needs thoroughly and evaluates their condition and circumstances. Cases that warrant 24 hr detox admission may include:3,4

  • Recent overdose.
  • Signs of a drug-related mental illness (particularly serious ones, like psychosis).
  • Another medical emergency associated with drug abuse.
  • A long history of severe substance abuse to avoid a change of mind.
  • Professionally arranged intervention to compel the addicted individual into rehabilitation.

Initial Evaluation at Same-Day Detox Facilities

It’s important to point out that detoxification is just the first step, not an addiction treatment by itself. When someone is admitted into a rehab facility, the initial step of the intake process is the evaluation or assessment. This is how medical staff determines the appropriate detox treatment option for each patient.3 

After medical stabilization, the patient should be capable of making the decision to proceed with substance abuse treatment. Several factors will be taken into consideration when recommending a treatment plan to a recently detoxed patient:3

  • Drug of choice. Patients are placed in suitable programs depending on the substance they’re addicted to. Safe detox and management of withdrawal symptoms of alcohol, sedative­, or opioid dependence typically require hospital or other type of 24-­hour medical care setting with round-the-clock nursing and medical backup.
  • The severity of the addiction. The medical staff makes recommendations according to provided information about any previous instances of detox and/or SUD treatment. They can evaluate the severity of each patient’s addiction if they know if the patient had already gone through withdrawal before, how many times, and what happened after.
  • Duration of alcohol or drug abuse also affects the decision about what steps to take. Sometimes, medically assisted withdrawal isn’t necessary. Younger people, with no health problems and no history of severe withdrawal reactions, might be able to safely go through detox without medication.
  • Other factors include being significantly intoxicated or going through withdrawal at the time of admission or showing signs of certain mental health issues, particularly a severe co-occurring psychiatric disorder or being suicidal. 

What Types of Treatment Are Offered at Emergency Drug Rehab Centers?

After the first step of detoxification, the patient is usually encouraged to proceed with SUD treatment. Depending on each patient’s need and circumstances, treatment may include inpatient or residential programs that provide a safe environment for adopting a more adaptive behavior. For less severe substance abuse issues, outpatient services may be recommended, or limited hospitalization programs.3

  • Medical detox. Medically assisted detoxification is only the initial phase of addiction treatment. Detox treatment by itself doesn’t do much to change deep-rooted substance abuse issues. Its purpose is to safely manage unpleasant physical symptoms of withdrawal.4
  • Inpatient Rehabilitation (IR) provides supervision of the patient during the detox process and medical management of withdrawal symptoms. Individuals live at the treatment facility during that time, usually up to 28 days.5 

This is done to prevent the patient from having access to alcohol and other substances and allow them a pause from personal and work responsibilities. The patient can focus on their treatment in a structured environment setting and this period of sobriety helps them take the first step toward recovery.5
This type of treatment program is the most effective one for individuals with severe addiction or those with co-occurring mental health disorders.6

  • Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a level of care that involves at least 20 hours of treatment per week and is best suited for individuals that don’t require 24-hour supervision. Treatment is provided during the day in a detox hospital setting, and then the patient can return to their usual environment or a sober-living housing facility.3
  • Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is similar to the partial hospitalization program and is appropriate for those with mild to moderate symptoms. This program offers psychosocial evaluation in addition to biomedical stabilization. Patients usually receive at least 9 hours of treatment per week. This level of care provides intensive treatment similarly to inpatient settings but without the need for 24-hour supervision.3
  • Outpatient treatment services usually involve less than 9 hours of treatment per week. Treatment can involve therapy, medical management, and support groups.3
  • Sober living is a type of maintenance care, which is provided after completion of other types of inpatient or residential treatment. It offers supervised, short-term housing to help the patients transition to an independent life, and provides community support services.6

What Are Some Advantages of an Alcohol and Drug Detox Program?

Detox programs are considered successful if a physically stabilized patient, after the withdrawal phase, decides to proceed with an appropriate type of substance abuse treatment in a rehab facility.3

 There are multiple benefits to a detoxification program aside from the elimination of the drug from the system. Some of them include:4

  • Physical benefits.
  • Psychological benefits.
  • Support on a continuing basis (recovery groups).

Licensed rehab facilities offer intensive 24-hour care and medical attention, and safe housing. Residential drug or alcohol rehabilitation facilities use a variety of treatment models and approaches to help patients achieve a drug-free lifestyle after treatment.6

What’s the Duration of Emergency Alcohol or Drug Detox Programs?

Detoxification programs can be provided in a variety of settings and involve diverse intensity levels within those settings, depending on the patient’s needs. The detoxification phase or the elimination of abused substances from one’s system can last up to a week. Depending on the severity of addiction and duration of use, it can last:3

  • 1 day.
  • 3, 5, or 7 days.

How Long Are Rehab Programs?

Rehab programs can be short or long-term. The appropriate duration is determined according to each individual’s circumstances and needs, the severity of addiction, and potential co-occurring mental health disorders:4

  • 30 days. This is a short-term residential treatment option, with a focus on detoxification and initial intensive counseling to prepare the patient for treatment in a community-based setting.6
  • 60 days is longer-term inpatient treatment, for people with moderate to severe addiction.4
  • 90 days. In general, more severely addicted individuals require at least 3 months of treatment to achieve meaningful results and stop their drug use. The best outcomes are associated with a longer duration of treatment. Addiction is a chronic disease and recovery from it is a long-term process that may require multiple episodes of treatment.4

How Do you Know When a Loved one Should Start a Drug Detox Program?

Telltale signs that somebody’s substance abuse issues require attention generally include:7

  • Using the drug for longer periods of time.
  • Increasing the dosage to achieve the desired effect.
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when reducing or stopping use.
  • Spending a lot of money, borrowing, or even stealing.
  • Spending a lot of time obtaining and using drugs, or recovering from their effects.
  • Neglecting private, professional, or school responsibilities because of drug use.
  • Keep using the drug regardless of the damage to personal relationships.
  • Missing important social or work-related activities because of substance use.
  • Persisting with drug use after dangerous situations, like legal issues for possession or selling drugs, or getting violent.
  • Ignoring the worsening of health or mental issues caused by drug use.

Paying for Emergency Drug Detox Programs

There are several ways to pay for drug detox and rehabilitation programs. Detox is classified as a medical, not a SUD service. First, you should determine what kind of coverage is available to you or, if you don’t have insurance, what kind of treatment you can afford. The payment options may include:8

  • Insurance. Since SUDs are essential health benefits, all marketplace health insurance plans are required to cover mental health and substance abuse services.9
  • Private pay can cover parts of treatment that insurance doesn’t. Most rehab centers accept cash, and offer payment plans or sliding scale fees, for patients with lower incomes.
  • Borrowing money from friends and family is also an option since substance abuse is a time-sensitive matter that needs to be addressed before it progresses or leads to serious complications, including overdose or death.
  • Other options include free addiction recovery centers, low-cost rehabs, as well as state-funded urgent treatment centers.

Where Can I Find Programs That Have Same-Day Admissions for Emergency Detox?

Substance abuse recovery centers do their best to make immediate drug rehab and detox (same or next-day admission) possible for patients who need it. In some cases, it might be necessary to consider rehab centers further away from home, since resources are limited in some areas of the country, especially in rural parts.2 

The most reliable way to find and contact licensed emergency rehab near you is SAMHSA’s Treatment Services Locator. You can use it to locate SUD facilities and programs across the country. SAMHSA also offers a free and confidential 24-hour National Helpline. To find rehab now, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and get accurate information about addiction programs and detox hospitals near you.

You can reach out to your health insurance provider to ask about the coverage of detox and urgent treatment services. Additionally, 24-hour free and confidential addiction hotlines are available to provide you with guidance.

Finally, you can also contact specific providers of treatment services such as American Addiction Centers (AAC). As a trusted leader in the field of addiction treatment, AAC rehab facilities are available across the U.S.

Seeking Help at American Addiction Centers Facilities

AAC’s admission navigators can check your benefits and quickly have you admitted to the most appropriate facility. The easiest and fastest way to start the detox treatment is to reach out by calling an AAC hotline. Your call will be answered by an operator who can verify your coverage while you’re on the phone, explain your options, and get the rehab admission process started. Your call, as well as any information you provide, is strictly confidential. To find an urgent treatment center near you, visit AAC’s treatment center locator. 

Additional treatment options are also available to individuals with particular needs and life circumstances. Some of them may include:

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does a Stay in an Emergency Rehab Center Last?

Detox can last up to a week, depending on the severity of addiction and the duration of use. These several days can also be used to prepare the patient for further addiction treatment which is usually necessary to achieve long-term sobriety. Rapid and ultrarapid detox, particularly in the case of opioid addiction, have shown significantly lower rates of lasting recovery.3

What Is Rapid Detox?

Rapid detox is a fast, painless procedure, that generally lasts up to 24 hours. Rapid detox methods involve the use of narcotic antagonists (like naloxone, naltrexone, or nalmefene), followed by a variety of medications and techniques to mitigate the severe withdrawal symptoms.3

The data showing a positive correlation between rapid detox and the likelihood of lasting abstinence is scarce. However, the efforts to make the detox faster and easier still exist despite their questionable safety and potentially counterproductive nature.3

Do Insurance Policies Cover the Costs of Emergency Detox?

Since SUDs are essential health benefits, all major health insurance plans are required to cover addiction treatment, as well as mental health services. They also offer coverage for services available at emergency detox centers.9

How Does Being Alcohol-Free Benefit You?

Since alcohol use is proven to be detrimental to general physical and mental health, becoming alcohol-free after an extended period of abuse allows the body to restore to its normal functioning. Not all damage is fully reversible, particularly in the case of severe, long-lasting addiction. However, physical recovery, accompanied by medication, counseling or therapy, and support groups, can lead the patient toward essential lifestyle changes and lasting sobriety.3