AHS Youth Services Adolescent Voluntary Detoxification program
Contact Us
(Voluntary Detox)
Alberta Health Services (AHS) Addiction and Mental Health Youth Services
Adolescent Voluntary Detoxification program (Voluntary Detox) helps youth ages
12 – 18 years old who are struggling with alcohol and drug addictions.
Participation in Voluntary Detox is referred through AHS. Young people or their families must meet with an intake worker from AHS to determine appropriate placement.
Our program provides social detoxification services as well as preparation for further treatment if necessary. This is a voluntary program and youth may leave at their own request.
Our goal is to help young people suffering from addictions understand the impact of drugs and alcohol and to educate alternative coping strategies.
Voluntary Detox provides therapeutic services for youth suffering from substance abuse. This is a treatment program designed to assist young people through a detoxification process and assess additional needs for services.
Most teens stay in the program for 10 days. During their time here, treatment involves a series of individual and group interventions, education on substances, their affect on one’s physical and mental health, alternative coping strategies, and assistance in accessing future treatments and services.
Our program provides critical components in the intervention process. We work closely with youth to help them detach from their previous toxic substances on all levels including physically, mentally, emotionally, behaviourally and socially.
Participation in the Voluntary Detox program is accessible to the public and teens are not required to be involved in Children’s Services. While this is a voluntary program, a young person may be asked to leave if they are behaving in a manner that creates safety issues or interferes with others’ treatment.
The length of stay can be flexible and considered on an individual basis. Shorter stays can be considered successful and youth can stay longer than 10 days if program staff and AHS agree. Our services may also be offered to young adults who have previous extensive involvement with AHS Youth Services.
Upon leaving Voluntary Detox, many youth move into longer-term programs. Some of these may be offered through Hull, and others are available through various community agencies. Arrangements for transition out of the program will be made on an individual basis, and many recommendations are available from AHS and program staff.
(35 KB)
