Published
Medically reviewed by Danesh Alam MD, DFAPA, DFASAM
How quickly detox can start depends on four things: whether the situation is an emergency, what a clinical assessment recommends, what your insurance requires, and whether the right program has space. The fastest way to get answers is to call and describe what is happening now. You do not need to have every detail figured out first.
If someone is in danger right now, do not wait for a detox bed. Call 911. The section below explains which symptoms count as emergencies.
When not to wait: call 911 or go to the ER
Withdrawal from alcohol and some medications can become a medical emergency. NIAAA warns that alcohol withdrawal "can be life threatening" when someone who drinks heavily stops suddenly. NIAAA: Alcohol use disorder.
Call 911 or go to an emergency room for:
- A seizure
- Severe confusion, or seeing or hearing things that are not there
- A fever or an irregular heartbeat during alcohol withdrawal
- Signs of overdose: the person cannot be woken, has slow or shallow breathing, makes gurgling or snoring sounds, or has blue or gray lips or nails
MedlinePlus lists seizures, fever, severe confusion, hallucinations, and irregular heartbeat as reasons to seek emergency care during alcohol withdrawal. Delirium tremens, a severe form of withdrawal, is a medical emergency that usually begins two to four days after the last drink. MedlinePlus: Alcohol withdrawal; MedlinePlus: Delirium tremens.
For a suspected opioid overdose, the CDC advises giving naloxone if you have it, calling 911, keeping the person breathing, laying them on their side, and staying with them. If you are not sure, treat it as an overdose. CDC: Responding to an overdose. For suicidal thoughts or an emotional crisis, call or text 988.
What decides how quickly detox can start
There is no standard wait time for detox, and an honest program will not promise one before it knows your situation. These are the steps that set the timing.
1. A screen for emergencies. The first questions are about immediate safety. If the person needs hospital-level care, the right next step is an emergency department rather than a detox admission.
2. An assessment of withdrawal risk. Clinicians ask which substances are involved, how much and how often, when they were last used, and what happened during past withdrawals. ASAM's alcohol withdrawal guideline bases the level of care on current symptoms, the risk of severe or complicated withdrawal, and the person's medical, psychiatric, and living situation. ASAM: Alcohol withdrawal management guideline. Not everyone needs inpatient detox, and the assessment decides which setting fits.
3. Insurance. Admissions checks your benefits and whether the plan requires prior authorization before admission. Review times vary by plan. If you are paying yourself, ask for the expected cost before admission.
4. Availability. Even when everything else is ready, the program needs an open bed or slot. Ask directly about current availability and what happens if there is a wait.
What happens when you call Ambrosia
Ambrosia's admissions team answers the phone 24 hours a day. The conversation usually covers three things:
- What is happening. An admissions specialist listens and asks for the information needed to understand the situation. You can call for yourself or for someone you care about.
- Care and coverage. The team reviews clinical needs, timing, location, insurance benefits, and the level of support that may be appropriate.
- The next step. If Ambrosia is a fit, the team explains preparation and arrival. If another option is more appropriate, they will tell you.
A call does not commit you to treatment. Insurance verification is free, and benefit information is an estimate, not a guarantee of payment.
What to have ready
You can call without any of this, but it helps to have:
- The substances involved, how much, how often, and when each was last used
- Any past withdrawal problems, especially seizures or delirium tremens
- Current prescriptions, with doses, and any allergies
- Medical and mental health conditions, and the names of current providers
- An insurance card and photo ID, if you have them
SAMHSA also suggests bringing your medications in their original bottles, writing down your questions, and asking what you cannot bring into an inpatient setting. SAMHSA: Get ready to start treatment. Packing rules vary by facility, so ask admissions for the current list before you leave home.
Do not stop alcohol or benzodiazepines on your own
When someone finally decides to stop, it is tempting to quit all at once while waiting for a detox start date. With alcohol or benzodiazepines, talk with a medical professional before stopping.
Stopping benzodiazepines abruptly can cause withdrawal reactions, including seizures, that can be life-threatening. The FDA advises a gradual, individualized taper instead. FDA: Benzodiazepine boxed warning. For someone who has used them long term, coming off can take weeks or months, so benzodiazepine "detox" is often a supervised taper rather than a few days of care.
For alcohol, ASAM's guideline says lower-risk patients can often be managed as outpatients, with daily check-ins with a clinician. People at higher risk need a more intensive setting. The key is medical guidance, not willpower alone.
Opioid withdrawal is very uncomfortable but usually not life-threatening. The danger comes after withdrawal: tolerance drops, and MedlinePlus notes that most opioid overdose deaths occur in people who have just detoxed. MedlinePlus: Opioid withdrawal. Keep naloxone nearby and ask about medication for opioid use disorder. A NIDA-funded study found buprenorphine could be started safely in emergency departments, including for people using fentanyl. NIDA: Buprenorphine in the emergency department. In Florida, iSaveFL can help you find naloxone near you.
If your loved one will not go
Families often call before the person who needs help is ready. Admissions can still talk through the situation, and a planned intervention is one option.
Florida's Marchman Act lets a court order involuntary assessment and stabilization for a person whose substance use has left them unable to make sound decisions about care, or who poses a real risk of harm. Under the current law, a spouse, guardian, relative, service provider, or an adult with direct knowledge of the situation may file a petition, and the clerk of court cannot charge a filing fee. Florida Statutes, Chapter 397. The process was overhauled in 2024, so older guides may be out of date. Contact the clerk of court in the county where the person is, or an attorney, for current procedures.
Be careful with hotlines and incentives
Some phone numbers that appear in search results belong to referral services, not treatment providers. Ask whoever answers whether they are a treatment program or a referral service, and which providers pay them. Florida law requires lead-generation marketers to disclose this. Florida Statutes 397.55.
Be wary of anyone who offers cash, gifts, or free housing in exchange for entering treatment. Florida's Patient Brokering Act prohibits paying or rewarding people for patient referrals. Florida Statutes 817.505. You can check a Florida provider's license through the Department of Children and Families' substance use disorder provider search.
Starting detox at Midwest Detox
Midwest Detox at Ambrosia in West Palm Beach provides detoxification with 24/7 medical supervision by physicians and nurses. It serves adults and adolescents, and admission and the plan of care are based on an individual clinical assessment. The medical detox program page explains what the first days involve.
Detox is a first step, not the whole treatment plan. Ask admissions how continued care would be arranged, and read what happens after detox to plan ahead. If you are unsure whether you need detox at all, start with our guide to deciding whether you need detox.
To ask about current availability, call (888) 492-1633 or request a callback.