The Royal is proud to announce the launch of its Day Detox Program, a first-of-its-kind model in Ottawa designed to make treatment for substance withdrawal more accessible, safe, and stigma-free.
Offered through The Royal’s Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic, this innovative program illustrates yet another example of The Royal’s unwavering commitment to helping more people reclaim their lives from mental illness and addiction.
Nearly 21 per cent of Canadians will experience an addiction in their lifetime, and for 18 per cent, that addiction will be alcohol, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. Yet for many, accessing treatment remains out of reach due to family, work, and financial commitments. But without proper support, alcohol and/or opioid withdrawal can be dangerous and even deadly.
Breaking down barriers to treatment
Traditional inpatient programs, such as The Royal’s Assessment and Stabilization Unit (ASU), are designed to support patients who experience complicated and severe withdrawal from alcohol or opioid use and require several days of 24/7 medical supervision.
For those facing less severe withdrawal symptoms, the RAAM Clinic’s Day Detox Program offers a safe and convenient alternative. Patients can receive treatment during the day and return home in the evening, allowing them to maintain family and work responsibilities while beginning their journey to reclaim their lives from addiction.
“During the pandemic, life was really bad because of my alcohol addiction. Then The Royal called and said, ‘If you can get here in 45 minutes, we’ve just had a spot open up.’," says Mark Taggart, former ASU patient, The Royal. "I arrived in the lobby and within minutes I was checked in to The Royal's Assessment and Stabilization Unit. And within the first half hour, we had a treatment plan in place — that kind of immediate care was life-changing. There are so many people who go into recovery, return to the world, and relapse because the demand for this type of support is so high. That’s why programs like the new Day Detox are so important — they make care more accessible when people need it most.”
How it works
- Virtual support first: Patients contact The Royal’s RAAM Clinic care team to share what they need, how The Royal can help, ask questions, build trust, and possibly prepare for treatment.
- Flexible care: If the RAAM Clinic determines the Day Detox Program is the right approach for support managing alcohol or opioid withdrawal, patients will come to The Royal’s Carling campus. A nurse will oversee their stabilization, medication, and progress alongside a physician, social worker and/or a nurse practitioner.
- Tailored to individual needs: Some patients may stay for a few hours, and some may return the next day.
- Safe Transition Home: Each patient leaves with the support and confidence needed to continue recovery.
“This is the only program of its kind in Ottawa,” says Stephanie Carter, Executive Director, Clinical Services, The Royal. “We’ve built this model on evidence-based research and the latest findings will continue to guide the treatment we provide. We look forward to sharing our learnings so more communities can remove barriers to treatment.”
The Royal’s Day Detox Program has already started welcoming patients. For more information or to access support through the RAAM Clinic, visit The Royal's Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders Program page or call 613.722.6521, ext. 6508, Mon-Fri., 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
About The Royal
The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental illness and addiction treatment, research, and education hospitals, dedicated to supporting individuals aged 16 and older who are living with complex mental illness and addiction. Since opening in 1910, The Royal has grown into a trusted resource for people across eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec, and Nunavut.
With campuses in Ottawa and Brockville, and clinical teams working directly in homes and communities, The Royal delivers compassionate, evidence-informed care grounded in cutting-edge research, including through its partnership with the University of Ottawa and other academic and community partners. Its integrated model brings together care, research, education, and strategic partnerships to help build a future of recovery.
At The Royal, we separate the person from the illness, helping more people reclaim their lives.
Media contact: Alyssa Nader, Communications Specialist, The Royal, anader@theroyal.ca
