What Happens If I Have A Medical Emergency During Rehab?

If you have a medical emergency while enrolled in a residential drug rehab program, the on-site medical staff will respond immediately to make sure that you get the care you need.

If the emergency is serious, such as heart problems, staff will arrange emergency transportation to a nearby hospital.

For milder medical concerns, such as a drop in blood pressure or fainting, medical staff at the rehab center may be able to provide appropriate care.

Medical Emergency Care At Addiction Treatment Centers

Addiction is a complex health condition that often involves a wide range of physical and mental health symptoms, as well as co-occurring health conditions.

Due to this, most drug rehab centers are equipped to handle a wide range of medical emergencies, either at the rehab center or through nearby healthcare providers such as hospitals.

This varies from rehab center to rehab center. Some smaller addiction recovery centers, such as sober living homes with a small staff, may not be able to provide the same level of care and attention as a larger, residential facility.

Health Emergency Protocols

Drug and alcohol rehab centers have protocols for when a client or another person at the facility experiences a medical emergency.

This could include anything from administering first-aid to calling in an active response team, depending on the type of emergency.

The Initial Response

As soon as a medical emergency happens, trained medical staff at the rehab center will conduct an immediate evaluation to determine the severity of the situation and decide the next steps.

This could include immediate treatment on-site or contacting the appropriate medical emergency treatment providers.

Communication With Medical Services

If the emergency is one that either is not treatable at the rehab center or requires medical intervention, staff will contact the appropriate emergency services, such as an ambulance.

This will ensure that you are either cared for on-site or transported to a hospital or emergency room for immediate care.

Medical Services Available At Drug Rehab Centers

Drug rehab centers typically have basic medical equipment on-site, such as first-aid kits, IVs and IV supplies, oxygen tanks, defibrillators, and other medical care items.

Medical staff at rehab centers are trained in providing care for a range of healthcare needs, but this varies from rehab center to rehab center.

What Happens If I Need To Go To The Hospital?

Sometimes, the medical emergency is severe enough to necessitate transport to a nearby hospital.

This could be for emergencies requiring further evaluation with high-tech medical equipment or specialized medical tests, surgeries, or other emergency care services.

Transport will typically happen through an ambulance service, with emergency medical technicians who will ensure your safety until you arrive at the hospital.

Continuing Treatment

If you have a medical emergency during your drug or alcohol addiction treatment program, you can expect to continue with your program once your health condition has stabilized.

In most cases, people’s overall health will improve as addiction treatment progresses, due to the many ways in which substance use affects physical and mental health.

Recovery & Safety Are Paramount

A medical emergency is almost always scary, but clients at reputable addiction treatment centers can rest assured that they are in good hands.

Trained staff and emergency protocols help ensure that any medical emergency will be addressed swiftly and appropriately, giving clients the confidence to remain focused on achieving sobriety.

Find Help For A Drug Or Alcohol Addiction Today

If you or a loved one is facing substance abuse, contact AddictionResource.net today to discuss getting on the path to recovery.

Published on September 22, 2023

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff