Emergency
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Withdrawal Management at George Pearson Centre

Need help immediately?

If there is a life-threatening safety concern, please call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-784-2433

BC Crisis Line: 604-310-6789

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Indigenous Crisis and Support Line - KUU-US Crisis Support Line: 1-800-588-8717

Harm reduction: Toward the Heart 

VCH Withdrawal Management (VCH WDM) in South Vancouver offers adult withdrawal management services, also known as detox. It provides a safe and supportive bed-based program for people who require supervised withdrawal and/or the initiation and titration of opioid agonist treatments (OAT). The VCH WDM team includes nurses and physicians, social workers, detox workers, acupuncturists, peers, and volunteers.

How to access

  • Check eligibility

    For adults aged 19 and above.

  • Get a referral

    There are many ways to connect with withdrawal-management services. You can refer yourself or ask a loved one to help you with your referral.

    Access Central Referral

    Call the ACCESS Central - Detox Referral Line for a telephone assessment done by a clinical team. The Access Central team will refer people to the appropriate service and schedule intakes.

    Clients will receive an intake date and time. When they arrive at VCH Withdrawal Management, the staff will complete an assessment, orient them to the site and support them in managing their belongings. 

  • About the program

    The medical team will assess and monitor clients throughout their stay, and the client’s care plan will direct the length of stay.

    On average, clients complete their withdrawal-management care plan in 5-7 days. Clients will work with a social worker to create a discharge plan supported by health-care workers.

    During clients’ inpatient treatment, in addition to medical and psychosocial care, clients can participate in various groups and receive nutritious meals and snacks.

Hours of operation

Currently closed
  • Monday:   5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
  • Tuesday:   5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
  • Wednesday:   5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
  • Thursday:   5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
  • Friday:   5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
  • Saturday:   5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
  • Sunday:   5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

The site is open 24/7 by intake appointment only. 

How to get here

Hours of operation

Visiting hours are from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The site is open 24/7 by intake appointment only. 

George Pearson Centre

Built in 1952, George Pearson Centre is located in a 7.7 hectare park-like setting. Resident amenities are ground floor, with the exception of the Stan Strong pool, which has an elevator to access.

Detox Services

Adult withdrawal management services, also known as detox, provide nursing care and physician support for a safe, supportive environment for people experiencing acute withdrawal from substances.