OWMC virtual visit
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When you stop using alcohol or other drugs, you can experience uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms; this is known as withdrawal. Your symptoms may be mild or more severe depending on the substance, the amount used and how long you’ve been using it. Physical symptoms may include sweating, a racing heart, palpitations, muscle tension, tremors/shakes, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Emotional symptoms can include anxiety, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, depression and inability to concentrate.
If you are looking for support for withdrawal, the Ottawa Withdrawal Management Centre (OWMC) will be able to help. We provide supervised support, in both official languages, for withdrawal from drugs and alcohol through residential, day and community outreach programs. All services are completely FREE and CONFIDENTIAL. They are geared toward individuals who:
- are 16 years of age or older
- are medically stable
- are intoxicated or experiencing withdrawal symptoms or at risk of relapse
- want to stop using one or more substances
When it comes to withdrawal programs, there is no such thing as a one size fits all. If you don’t see what you need on this website, please call the OWMC for help. Our staff will guide you to the right service for your circumstances.
OWMC key beliefs
- Withdrawal management can be highly effective. We believe that with proper rehabilitation, many of our clients will succeed in overcoming their addictions.
- Withdrawal management services should be confidential and judgment-free. Our counsellors emphasize support and discretion.
- Withdrawal should be completely safe. We pay close attention to medical and personal safety. Men and women are segregatedin our centre, except for group activities supervised by staff and/or volunteers.
What we offer
The Ottawa Withdrawal Management Centre offers a complete continuum of care in the area of addictions, especially in dealing with withdrawal management services, assessments and follow up care until admitted into treatment. We offer the following programs:
Residential Withdrawal Management: Short-term residential services for people who need 24-hour monitoring of their withdrawal symptoms and/or a structured, safe environment in order to stop using. The length of stay is based on individual needs, but the average length of stay is five days.
Community Withdrawal Management: Counsellors provide support for those who prefer to withdraw from substances at home or in another safe, supportive environment.
Day Withdrawal Management: The Day Program is for people who want to enhance their early recovery coping skills in a group format, especially in the early phase of recovery. This program lasts two to three weeks. We also offer individual counselling.
Maison Gilles-Chagnon: The Women’s Residential Stabilization Program is a safe, fully renovated home named after its original owner, Monsieur Gilles Chagnon. This program is focused on bridging the gap between withdrawal management and residential addiction treatment services.