Need Help Finding the Right Rehab For You?
✔ Complete Confidentiality
✔ Free Consultation
✔ Access to Top Treatment
A rehab specialist will help you find a treatment.
List of Detox Centers in Alberta
Medically Supported Detox is a free, medically supervised withdrawal management program operated by the George Spady Society in Edmonton, Alberta. This centre provides a safe, structured environment for adults seeking to withdraw from alcohol or other drugs while stabilizing their health and preparing for the next stage of their recovery journey.
Rehab Settings
- Detox
- Medical Detox
Services Offered
- Assessment
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Medical Staff On-Site
- Substance Abuse Counselling
People Served
- Co-Ed
Trust Factors
- Accreditation Canada
- Client Testimonials
- Evidence-Based Approach
- Licensed by the Government of Alberta
- Licensed Staff
Edmonton, AB
Key details about The George Spady Society
How much does The George Spady Society cost?
Free of charge
How long is treatment?
3 to 10 days
Does The George Spady Society have a detox on-site?
Yes
Is it co-ed?
Yes
What is their capacity?
41 people and 19 post-detox recovery beds
Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre is a culturally grounded residential addiction and mental health recovery facility located near Edmonton, Alberta. With origins dating back to 1973, it is recognized both provincially and nationally for its Indigenous-informed, holistic approach that blends traditional First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultural practices with proven recovery principles such as the 12-Step model and abstinence-based care.
Rehab Settings
- Detox
- Medical Detox
- Residential Long-Term
- Sober Living
Services Offered
- Abstinence-Based Recovery
- Aftercare
- Assessment
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Drug Prevention and Education
- Faith-Based
- Holistic
- Substance Abuse Counselling
- Substance Abuse Counselling for Individuals
- Substance Abuse Group Counselling
- Twelve-Step
- Wilderness/Adventure
People Served
- Co-Ed
- Indigenous Peoples
- Pregnant Women
Trust Factors
- CARF-Accredited
- Evidence-Based Approach
- Licensed by the Government of Alberta
- Licensed Staff
- Non-Profit Organization
- Registered Canadian Charitable Organization
Sturgeon County, AB
Key details about Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre
How much does Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre cost?
Free of charge (for residents with Alberta Health care)
How long is treatment?
Adult program: 42 days
Young adult program (18 to 24): 90 days
Is it co-ed?
Yes
Does Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre have a gym or other amenities?
Yes, there is a gymnasium and an exercise room.
What professional/medical staff work at Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre?
Darlene Marchuk, MSW | Clinical Director
Eknoor Kaur, LPN
Thorpe Recovery Centre is a long-standing non-profit residential addiction treatment facility located on a rural campus in Blackfoot, Alberta, about 10 km west of Lloydminster. Founded in 1975 and named for prominent community advocate Walter A. “Slim” Thorpe, the centre offers holistic, peer-focused care for adults 18 years and older seeking freedom from chemical and process addictions, including drugs, alcohol, gambling, and disordered eating.
Rehab Settings
- Detox
- Medical Detox
- Residential Long-Term
Services Offered
- Aftercare
- Assessment
- Co-Occurring Disorders
- Faith-Based
- Family Services
- Holistic
- Relapse Prevention
- Substance Abuse Counselling
- Substance Abuse Counselling for Individuals
- Substance Abuse Group Counselling
- Twelve-Step
People Served
- Co-Ed
- Family Programs
Trust Factors
- Accreditation Canada
- Client Testimonials
- Evidence-Based Approach
- Funded by Alberta Health Services Addiction & Mental Health
- Funded by Saskatchewan Health Authority
- Licensed by the Government of Alberta
- Licensed Staff
- Non-Profit Organization
- Registered Canadian Charitable Organization
Blackfoot, AB
Key details about Thorpe Recovery Centre
How long is treatment?
42 days
Does Thorpe Recovery Centre typically have a waiting list?
Yes, sometimes
Does Thorpe Recovery Centre have a detox on-site?
Yes
Is it co-ed?
Yes
What professional/medical staff work at Thorpe Recovery Centre?
Vera Koster, BA, CCAC, CCRC, ACTA | Clinical Director
What is their capacity?
84 people
The Medically Supported Detox program at Safe Harbour Society in Red Deer, Alberta provides a structured, physician-overseen detoxification service for adults 18 years and older who are withdrawing from alcohol, drugs, or other substances. Operating around the clock, this program supports early recovery by offering focused medical monitoring, compassionate care, and transitional planning in a community-based setting.
Rehab Settings
- Detox
- Medical Detox
Services Offered
- Assessment
- Medical Staff On-Site
People Served
- Co-Ed
Trust Factors
- Evidence-Based Approach
- Licensed by the Government of Alberta
- Licensed Staff
- Non-Profit Organization
- Registered Canadian Charitable Organization
Red Deer, AB
Key details about Safe Harbour Society – Medically Supported Detox
How much does Safe Harbour Society – Medically Supported Detox cost?
Free of charge
How long is treatment?
5 to 10 days
Does Safe Harbour Society – Medically Supported Detox have a detox on-site?
Yes
Is it co-ed?
Yes
Can I bring my cellphone?
No, cellphones are not permitted.
Top Rehab Locations
Pastew Place Detox Centre in Fort McMurray, Alberta is a community-focused addiction recovery facility that provides medically informed, compassionate support across the earliest and often most challenging phases of recovery. The centre’s mission is to help adults break the cycle of substance use through structured detoxification, education, and transitional supports tailored to individual needs.
Rehab Settings
- Detox
- Outpatient
Services Offered
- Aftercare
- Assessment
- Drug Prevention and Education
- Relapse Prevention
- Substance Abuse Counselling
Fort McMurray, AB
Key details about Pastew Place Detox Centre
How much does Pastew Place Detox Centre cost?
Free of charge
What are their business hours?
Detox program: 24/7
Day program: Monday to Friday - 9:15am to 3:30pm
How long is treatment?
Detox: 5 to 8 days
Day program: 5 days
Does Pastew Place Detox Centre have a detox on-site?
Yes, but only social detox, not medical detox
Can I bring my cellphone?
No, cellphones are not allowed.
Foothills Detox Centre in Fort Macleod, Alberta is a medically supported adult detoxification program that provides a safe, structured environment for individuals withdrawing from alcohol and other drugs. With a history of compassionate care lasting over four decades, the centre supports adults who need both physical stabilization and guided preparation for the next steps in recovery.
Rehab Settings
- Detox
- Medical Detox
Services Offered
- Assessment
- Relapse Prevention
People Served
- Co-Ed
Trust Factors
- Accreditation Canada
- Client Testimonials
- Funded by Alberta Health Services Addiction & Mental Health
- Licensed by the Government of Alberta
- Licensed Staff
- Non-Profit Organization
- Registered Canadian Charitable Organization
Fort Macleod, AB
Key details about Foothills Centre
How much does Foothills Centre cost?
Free of charge
What are their business hours?
Intake/Admissions: 7 days a week - 9am to 8pm (by appointment only)
Administrative hours: Monday to Friday - 8am to 4pm (Mountain Time)
How long is treatment?
7 to 10 days
Does Foothills Centre have a detox on-site?
Yes
Is it co-ed?
Yes
Can I bring my cellphone?
No, cellphones are not allowed.
Why Canadians Trust DRS
Independent Resource
100% editorially independent
Hands-On Experience
A combined 20+ years of hands-on experience getting people into and through treatment
400K+ real conversations with recovery experts
Trusted by Millions
More than 15 million Canadians trust DRS as a recovery resource
Expertise Backed by Research
Treatment listings, including free treatments, backed by thousands of hours of research and a clear vetting process to ensure they are accurate, comprehensive, and meet our ethical standards
Canada’s Most Trusted Addiction Recovery Resource Since 2004
As Canada’s longest-running directory and addiction treatment provider, we are the go-to source connecting Canadians with treatment options.
Family-Owned Commitment
As a family-owned and operated organization, we bring personal dedication and long-term commitment to helping families recover
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common symptoms across substances include anxiety, sweating, nausea, insomnia, and cravings, but the full picture varies significantly depending on what was being used. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can also produce tremors, hallucinations, and seizures, making them medically serious. Opioid withdrawal tends to feel flu-like, with muscle aches, vomiting, and intense restlessness. Stimulant withdrawal is mostly psychological: profound fatigue, depression, and difficulty feeling pleasure.
Most publicly funded withdrawal management services in Canada accept self-referrals; you can call or walk in without a physician's referral. The right type of service depends on your situation: community detox centres suit lower-risk withdrawals, while medical detox units and hospital emergency departments are needed for more severe presentations. RAAM clinics offer same-day walk-in assessment in many provinces. Private detox centres are also an option, typically with faster admission and longer stays, though costs are not covered by provincial health insurance.
The substance matters most. Anyone withdrawing from alcohol or benzodiazepines with significant dependence needs medical supervision; both can cause life-threatening seizures, and the most dangerous complications often develop after the person already feels they're past the worst. A prior history of withdrawal seizures or delirium tremens is the single strongest indicator that medical care is required. Opioid withdrawal isn't directly fatal but carries serious overdose risk on relapse, making clinical support strongly recommended. When in doubt, a phone screening with a withdrawal management service will help determine the right level of care.
Publicly funded detox is available in every province at no direct cost to residents with a valid health card, but wait times for residential beds can stretch from weeks to months depending on the province. Private detox centres typically cost $500–$2,000 per week and offer near-immediate admission with no wait list. Some of those costs may be partially recoverable through employer benefit plans or the federal Medical Expense Tax Credit.
Are detox programs in Alberta free?
How long does detox typically take in Alberta?
Does Alberta have programs for Indigenous people seeking detox?
Do all detox programs lead into ongoing treatment?
Marcel’s take on detox in Alberta
Detox is not treatment. It is the beginning of treatment, and a lot of people miss that distinction. I spent five years working inside a residential centre before I started DRS, and I watched people come through withdrawal, feel better, and think they were done. They were not. The reason they started using was still sitting there.
What detox actually looks like depends completely on what someone is coming off. I remember a guy who had been binging on crack cocaine for about a week straight. He slept for 36 hours. We woke him up to keep him hydrated and get supplements into him, and four or five days later he was ready to move on to the program. Heroin is harder. There are stages: first the agitation and insomnia, then nausea and vomiting. You have to keep them hydrated and get them through it. Alcohol is its own category. People in residential treatment for alcohol have usually been drinking for years, not months, and long-term use can damage organs, which creates another challenge after the withdrawal itself is done. And if someone is on benzos or fentanyl, medical supervision is not optional. I had a guy arrive at the centre saying he was coming off marijuana. He had been on benzodiazepines for years and had never properly detoxed from them. He ended up having a seizure. Those substances have to be handled in a medical environment first.
One practical thing worth knowing: not all centres in Alberta offer both detox and ongoing treatment under the same roof. Some are detox-only, and when you leave, you will need to move into a separate program. That transition is where a lot of people fall through the cracks. Plan for what comes after detox before you go in, not when you are coming out.
