"Can You Do a Short Detox?"
The Objection
- "I just need a 3-day detox."
- "Can I do a quick 5-day program?"
- "I can only stay 10 days. That's all the time I have."
What They're Really Asking
The Principle
Saying "No, we don't do 3-day detoxes" creates a dead end. They've told you their constraint and you've rejected it.
The Response
Initial Response:
"We can â everything is individualized. [ACKNOWLEDGE]
Are you calling for yourself or a loved one?" [RETURN]
Then later, during rapport/qualification:
If they push for very short (3-5 days), you can say:
"I totally get the appeal of a short program. Here's what I've found though â detox itself takes about 7 days. That's just getting the substance out of your system.
Another 7-10 days is really needed to start addressing the thinking patterns that got you there. If we did just 3 days, you'd still be in acute withdrawal and mentally foggy. You'd likely relapse. I wouldn't do that to you.
What if we found something between where you want to be and what we know works? Like, what if 10-14 days instead of 30?"
Transition to Qualification
If they say 10-14 days might be possible:
"Great. Let me see what that looks like for you. Are you calling for yourself or a loved one? How long have you been using, and what's your substance?"
If they say they truly can't do more than 3-5 days:
"I hear you. That's genuinely challenging. Here's what I'd say â if you can't be away for 14 days, we might not be the right fit for THIS time.
But we work with your situation. Can I get your info so that when something shifts and you can do 14 days, we can get you in quickly?"
This keeps the door open without making false promises.
What NOT to Do
Understanding WHY They Want Short
Before you respond to the time constraint, understand the reason behind it:
Common Reasons:
- Job/career concerns
- Family obligations (kids, elderly parents)
- Financial constraints
- Fear of extended commitment
- Previous negative long-term experience
- Minimizing the problem
Your Response Should:
- Validate the concern
- Explore if it's flexible
- Explain clinical realities
- Find middle ground if possible
- Be honest about fit
Special Scenarios
Job-Related Constraint:
Caller: "I can only take 5 days off work. I can't lose my job."
You: "I get it â losing your job would create a whole new crisis. Here's what I'd say though: if you go through treatment and it doesn't work because it was too short, you might lose your job anyway when you relapse. Some of our clients have actually talked to their employer about FMLA, which protects their job while they're in treatment. Have you looked into whether that's an option for you?"
Family Obligation:
Caller: "I have three kids. I can't be away for 30 days."
You: "That's tough. Kids need their parent. Here's what some of our parents say though â being gone for 14-21 days and coming back healthy is better than being physically there but mentally and emotionally unavailable because of substance use. Is there someone who could help with the kids for a couple weeks while you focus on getting better?"
Minimizing the Problem:
Caller: "I don't think my problem is that serious. I just need to detox and I'll be fine."
You: "I hear you. Can I ask â is this your first time trying to stop? [Let them answer.] And when you've tried before, how long did you stay clean? [Let them answer.] So it sounds like detox alone hasn't been enough in the past. That's not a failure on your part â it's just that substance use is rarely just a physical problem. The mental and emotional part takes time to address. That's why we recommend more than just detox."
Example in Action
Caller: "Can I do a 5-day detox? I really can't be away longer than that."
You: "We can â everything is individualized. Are you calling for yourself or a loved one?"
Caller: "For myself. I've been drinking every day for 5 years."
You: "Okay, so alcohol, 5 years. That's significant. Can I ask â what's the reason you can only do 5 days?"
Caller: "My job. I can't take more than a week off."
You: "I get it â losing your job would create a whole new crisis. Here's what I've found though â detox itself takes about 7 days. That's just getting the alcohol out of your system. Another 7-10 days is really needed to start addressing the thinking patterns that got you there. If we did just 5 days, you'd still be in acute withdrawal and mentally foggy. You'd likely relapse. What if we found something between where you want to be and what we know works? Like, what if 10-14 days instead of 30? Have you looked into whether FMLA is an option with your employer?"