Withdrawal Management Services (WMS) offers supportive care for those experiencing withdrawal as a result of alcohol or substance use and provides a safe space to help you create positive lifestyle changes to support your sobriety and recovery process.
WMS is appropriate for those who: | |
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At WMS, clients are supported by our team of both clinical and social service professionals who can provide a holistic care experience. Services provided include:
- Safe withdrawal management
- Access to an addictions Nurse Practitioner
- Compassionate and supportive 1:1 treatment planning and coaching
- Access and referrals to community services and treatment
- Recovery-based education and activities
- Access to NA/AA/CA groups on-site
All clients should bring their home medications in their original containers to WMS for intake.
Note: WMS was previously referred to as the Men’s and Women’s Detox, but has since amalgamated into one program.
WMS is a 20-bed program with 12 beds for male-identifying clients (East Wing) and 8 beds for female-identifying clients (West Wing), located at 264 Welland Ave. St. Catharines, ON. WMS is an inclusive and 2SLGBTQ+-friendly environment. Those who identify as two-spirit, transgender, or nonbinary are welcome to stay in the wing where they feel most comfortable.
Niagara Health has a No Tolerance policy for abuse of any kind, including:
- No tolerance for verbal abuse
- No tolerance for violence
- No tolerance for harassment
- No tolerance for racism or discrimination
When to seek Emergency Services
- Poor airway/breathing/circulation/altered level of consciousness
- New cough, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea and/or at risk of dehydration (before the onset of withdrawal symptoms)
- Acute serious injuries requiring medical attention (i.e broken bones, head injuries)
- Acute psychosis or mania, extreme agitation or confusion
- Inadequately controlled chronic psychiatric disorders
- Inadequately controlled diabetes
- Actively suicidal or homicidal ideation with plan, intent and means
- History of hallucinations or seizures when stopping substance use (Note: may be appropriate for WMS if NP present for admission)
- History of delirium tremens (DTs) (Note: may be appropriate for WMS if NP present for admission)
- Chronic medical conditions requiring significant medical monitoring or medical supplies (i.e. severe CHF, oxygen requirement, need for continuous cardiac monitoring)
- Use of alcohol substitutes (i.e. rubbing alcohol, Listerine)
- < 16 years of age
Client admission may be appropriate after a medical assessment. If unable to admit, we encourage clients to return when acute concerns have been addressed.
Accessing WMS
WMS accepts referrals 24/7 from those who self-refer or are referred by a community agency or care provider. We work on a first-come first-serve basis, with priority given to current Niagara Health patients and NRP referrals to support a safe transfer of care.
For self-referrals, please call WMS at 905-682-7211 to complete a referral assessment with one of our staff.
For community or care provider referrals, please fax a copy of the completed referral form to 905-682-4749.
If referred from the Emergency Department, please contact WMS at 905-682-7211 and our team will complete the intake form with the client over the phone.
Once we have your completed referral form, WMS will call you back within 24 hours to schedule an intake date/time. If you do not hear back, please reach out again.
We ask that clients please arrive on time for their intake as we have allotted the necessary time for a comprehensive review of your medical history, substance/alcohol use history, and care needs. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late to your appointment without notice, you will have to call back to reschedule a new intake date/time.
For clients who require low-barrier walk-in access to care for alcohol or substance use, please utilize our Rapid Access Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinic. For RAAM questions, call 905-378-4647 x49463 between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
RAAM Clinic Hours
Mondays from 9 – 11 a.m.
- 264 Welland Avenue, St. Catharines
- Virtual appointments are available through Community Addiction Services of Niagara (CASON)
- Niagara Falls Hospital, Outpatient Mental Health Unit
Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m.
- Marotta Family Hospital (St. Catharines Hospital), Outpatient Mental Health Unit
- Welland Hospital, Maclean Building
Outside of WMS and RAAM intake hours, patients seeking emergent and urgent withdrawal management support are asked to go to the Emergency Department.
Learn more about local Opiate Replacement Therapy (ORT) services.
Your stay at WMS
When you first arrive at WMS, our care team will conduct your intake review to determine care needs and complete any assessments required. We are a safe, non-punitive, and non-judgmental space. We need to know as much about your substance/alcohol use as possible to be able to treat your withdrawal appropriately, so please answer honestly and to the best of your ability.
The intake team usually consists of a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) and a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or an RPN/NP and a Program Worker.
We have a private intake room as your confidentiality is important to us.
Your intake will also include a search of your person and belongings (including the use of a metal detector) to ensure that no drugs/paraphernalia/weapons/sharps are brought into WMS. If found, these will be disposed of by staff according to hospital policy.
Note: Using/concealing/smuggling any illicit substances while at WMS will result in immediate discharge from the program.
After your intake review, you will be asked to provide a urine/breath sample for drug screening. This is not punitive but is to ensure that we can safely prescribe medications and monitor for your withdrawal symptoms. You may be asked to provide an additional sample throughout your WMS stay if required.
For health and safety reasons, as we have shared accommodations, you will be asked to shower before entering the common space. Staff will provide you with a change of clothes to wear while we launder your washable items. Once laundered, you can change back into your personal items and return the WMS clothing. We can provide you with basic hygiene supplies if you do not have any.
Your stay at WMS may be categorized into two stages:
Stage 1: Acute Withdrawal
Your withdrawal will be closely monitored and cared for by our clinical team. You will not be expected to engage in group programming or additional activities until you are deemed well enough by clinical staff-however you may attend sessions during this time if you wish. We will encourage proper rest and nutrition.
Stage 2: Treatment Planning
Once you have been deemed past acute withdrawal by our clinical team, you will be expected to attend all group programming and meetings (attendance is not optional) and begin planning your next steps for referrals and treatment.
Every client has an individual care plan for their stay at WMS, and therefore, the length of stay varies per client. This will be a collaborative discussion for discharge planning between the client and the care team.
Shared Common Space
Isolation Room
Shared Accommodations
Shared Dining Area
Smoking
Niagara Health is committed to the promotion of the health and well-being of all members of the hospital community. Given the serious health hazards of smoking, Niagara Health is smoke-free. All members of the hospital community are required to comply with this smoke-free policy, and accordingly, they cannot smoke or vape tobacco or electronic cigarette products on hospital property.
At WMS, clients will be permitted to have access to tobacco smoking breaks at set times, with specified and agreed-upon parameters.
Please note: that Niagara Health does not recommend or endorse smoking, and this is to be done at the client’s own risk, with accompanying health teaching. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is still offered and encouraged at WMS.
If you wish to take part in these designated smoking breaks, you will be asked to review, sign and abide by the Client Smoking Agreement.
WMS has a designated smoking area off of Niagara Health property, but still within the supervision of WMS staff for safety. Per this agreement, you may only smoke cigarettes from your supply (no loaning or borrowing) so if you wish to smoke, please bring your own cigarettes on admission. Smoking anything other than tobacco is prohibited.
Electronics
During your stay at WMS, you are permitted to keep your personal electronic devices as long as use is appropriate and not disruptive to the care of yourself or others.
You will be asked to review, sign, and abide by the Personal Electronics Agreement on admission.
Visiting
You may ask staff to coordinate visitors per Niagara Health’s visiting guidelines, but this must be planned in advance. Children and youth may visit as long as they are accompanied by an adult visitor.
Visiting hours are between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Visitors may be denied entry if there are concerns with infection control or safety within the unit. We also ask that no outside food be brought to WMS.
Amenities
- Ward-style shared accommodation beds
We have access to isolation rooms if required for infection control purposes - Bathroom facilities with showers + basic hygiene supplies as needed
- Dining room, with 3 standard meals provided and additional snacks/drinks available at any time
- Gathering spaces for group-based programming
- Common recreational areas, including access to:
- Shared tablet (emails, banking, Facebook, etc.)
- TV (including cable, Netflix and Youtube)
- Books
- Activity books (i.e. colouring books, word search)
- Games (i.e. puzzles, board games, etc.)
- Self-serve laundry access
- Private room for personal calls/meetings
- Donated clothing items to take as you need
Recovery Activities
- In-house AA/NA/CA meetings arranged with community volunteers
- SMART Recovery groups in collaboration with CMHA
- Reflective journaling
- Gratitude journaling
- Big Book Step worksheets (12-step programming)
- Daily guided group programming led by program staff
- Auricular acupuncture
- Guided meditation/relaxation
- 1:1 treatment planning
What to pack for WMS:
- Identification (please bring your health card if you have one)
- Any necessary medical records or written paper prescriptions
- Comfortable clothing (including pyjamas, robes, slippers)
- Footwear is required at all times
- Toiletries (no products with alcohol content, such as mouthwash/perfumes)
- Reading materials
- Journal/notebooks
- Activity books or puzzles (i.e. sudoku, word search)
- Pictures of family and friends (no glass frames)
- Sentimental and motivational items
- Personal electronic devices and chargers (cellphone/tablet/headphones/handheld gaming console, etc.)
- Please bring headphones if you wish to watch videos/listen to music on your devices
- Staff will store chargers and cables for safety, but will help to charge your devices when required
- Home medications (in their original packaging)
- If you wish to smoke while at WMS, bring your own cigarettes and a lighter (you cannot share/borrow cigarettes, staff will store these during your stay and provide access during designated smoke breaks)
- Bring a means to pay for medications if not covered by ODB (WMS uses an outpatient pharmacy)
What NOT to pack for WMS:
- Alcohol or illicit substances
- Prescription medication that is not yours or is not in its original container
- Over-the-counter medicine that is unapproved or has been opened
- Sharp objects/weapons/paraphernalia (will be disposed of per hospital policy)
- Valuables (i.e. jewelry, money)
- While at WMS, you are responsible for your own belongings. Niagara Health is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged items.
- Inappropriate clothing (i.e. no clothing with alcohol/drug references or obscenities, or that is too revealing/suggestive)
- Nail polish or nail polish remover
- Aerosols (i.e. hairspray, cologne)
- Candles, diffusers or incense
- WMS has a smudge spray that can be used indoors for traditional Indigenous healing practice, or we are happy to facilitate smudging outdoors per Niagara Health’s Smudging Policy and Procedure
- Food and drinks
- For infection control purposes, we ask that you do not bring blankets and pillows, we will provide these items
Additional Recovery Resources
Extraordinary Caring. Every Person. Every Time.
