Detox Center Los Angeles | Medical Detox

When drugs and alcohol have taken over a person’s life, they feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn for help. Southern California has long been at the forefront of cutting-edge detox and rehab services in the country. Anyone ready to commit to living a sober life can find the right program for detox in Los Angeles.

Note: At Launch Centers, we do not offer detox services. However, we proudly work and help coordinate care with local detox centers in the Los Angeles Area. Following detox, young adults can begin addiction & mental health treatment services with us.

What is Detox in Los Angeles Like?

Detox centers in Los Angeles offers a variety of options to help someone who wants to put their addiction to drugs or alcohol behind them. Detoxification takes place in a residential facility that provides round-the-clock monitoring and support. The main goal is to allow the body to rid itself of all the toxins built up during the addiction.

Detox in Los Angeles provides the comforts of home, allowing residents the ability to focus on getting better. Individuals in detox live in the facility, are provided with meals and either a private or semi-private room. Being away from their daily lives and any negative influences helps them focus on getting better. Detox staff members are trained professionals who understand the importance of showing compassion to residents facing addiction.

Detoxing from substances often comes with psychological side effects, such as feelings of anxiety and depression. Handling those side effects alone or without the proper guidance can be overwhelming. Fortunately, medical help can be provided to make the detox process less difficult. In some cases, appropriate medications are given to ease withdrawal symptoms.

Part of the detox process can involve determining what the next step in treatment should include. An assessment of the individual can determine whether they should transition into a residential recovery program or outpatient programming. Because detox generally doesn’t last more than a week, it’s imperative to have a plan in place for the next treatment step.

What Medications Are Used to Detox?

Some detox centers in Los Angeles include the use of medications to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. This process is called medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and includes medication in conjunction with counseling and behavioral therapies. MAT is used primarily to treat addiction to opioids and alcohol.

All medications must be FDA-approved and proven useful to individuals during the withdrawal process and beyond completion of detox. The medications commonly used as part of MAT treatment for opioid addiction include:

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings in a person.

Methadone

Methadone blocks the effects of opioids, reduces cravings for them, and eases withdrawal symptoms.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone blocks the effects of opioids and reduces cravings for them. The medications commonly used as part of MAT treatment for alcohol addiction include:

Acamprosate

Acamprosate reduces the craving for alcohol.

Disulfiram

Disulfiram causes unpleasant side effects, including vomiting, headache, and dizziness to happen if a person consumes alcohol. As a result, this makes them less likely to drink.

Naltrexone

Naltrexone blocks the effects of alcohol and reduces cravings for it.

How Long Is Detox in Los Angeles?

How long a detox program takes depends on several factors. They generally take from 3 to 7 days but may last longer. Factors that influence how long detox lasts include:

Substances the person uses
The number of substances taken
The length of the addiction
The person’s medical history
Any co-occurring mental health conditions
History of previous detox attempts
The amount and severity of any withdrawal symptoms

Can I Detox From Home?

The detoxification process can be complicated and potentially dangerous if done at home. Experts recommend anyone needing to go through detox do so under the supervision of medical experts in a facility equipped to handle the process. Withdrawal symptoms that occur can be managed by professionals who understand the detox process, thus knowing what potentially dangerous situations can be avoided.

When a person attempts to detox from home, they often find the withdrawal symptoms so uncomfortable that they give up and begin drinking or using drugs again. Those who take advantage of a professional detox program are more likely to complete the process and also more likely to stay in recovery.

Withdrawal Symptoms During Detox

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics reported that during the 12 months ending in May 2020, approximately 81,230 drug overdose deaths occurred in the US. This represents the largest number of monthly increases in drug overdoses since the group began monitoring them. This alarming statistic means that more people than ever are in need of professional addiction treatment, which starts with the detoxification process.

When a person begins treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, they usually experience symptoms of withdrawal. Withdrawal is the body’s way of ridding itself of the toxins and harsh chemicals that were built up over a lengthy period of using addictive substances. Everyone experiences withdrawal differently, and different substances can cause different side effects and symptoms during the withdrawal process.

Some substances cause physical withdrawal symptoms, like:

Dizziness
Heart palpitations
Nausea
Sweating

Comparatively, others can cause emotional effects, such as:

Anxiety
Restlessness
Cravings

Withdrawal is the first step towards recovery, and it needs to happen before a person can start any other form of treatment.

How Long Does Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Last?

If you’re recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction, you might be wondering how long it will take you to fully detox and start the healing process. Withdrawal timelines vary based on the type of drug, how long you’ve been using them, and how much you usually take at a given time. Certain substances take longer to leave the body, while others get released more quickly. Here’s a look at the estimated withdrawal timelines for some commonly used drugs.

Alcohol Withdrawal Timeline

Hours after the last dose
Withdrawal symptoms can start several hours after the last dose is taken, and often include anxiety and trouble sleeping.
Day 1-2:
Withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 6 to 12 hours after a person last consumes alcohol. They may include stomach aches, nausea, headaches, and anxiety. Depending on the severity of the addiction, some people experience hallucinations and seizures. If they develop delirium tremens, it can result in respiratory arrest, aspiration pneumonitis, and other conditions that require immediate medical attention.
Day 3-5:
Many people experience sweating, fever, rapid heart rate, and mental confusion. Symptoms typically reach their peak during this time period and begin to dissipate around the fifth day.
Day 6+:
Some symptoms continue to a lesser degree, and psychological symptoms such as depression and moodiness are more prevalent.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Timeline

Hours after the last does
Withdrawal symptoms can start several hours after the last dose is taken, and often include anxiety and trouble sleeping.
Day 1-4:
Many people who use the drug for anxiety or depression will experience rebound effects, meaning their condition will get worse when they stop taking it. Other side effects during this time include rapid heartbeat, sweating, and nausea.
Day 5-14:
Most people will experience heightened depression, anxiety and insomnia for up to 2 weeks after they begin detoxing.
Day 15+:
At this point, most symptoms will have disappeared. However, people who suffered from prolonged addictions may experience a random period of withdrawal symptoms for several months after their last dose.

Opioid Withdrawal Timeline

Day 1:
Most people start experiencing the withdrawal symptoms of opioids about 6 to 24 hours after their last dose. The initial side effects include muscle aches, difficulty sleeping, restlessness, anxiety, sweating, runny nose, and high blood pressure.
Day 2-4:
This is the period when symptoms are the most intense. Many people will experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, and depression. Intense opioid cravings typically set in within a few days after the last dose is taken.
Day 5-8:
By this point, most physical side effects will begin to subside, although the mental symptoms can linger for several weeks. Depending on the severity of the addiction, some people will continue experiencing cravings.

Heroin Withdrawal Timeline

Day 1-3:
Withdrawal symptoms typically start within 6 to 12 hours of the last dosage. Typical symptoms include muscles aches, shaking, anxiety, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, and drug cravings.
Day 4-7:
The initial symptoms will become less intense and end after about a week.
Day 8+:
Most physical withdrawal symptoms subside by this time but psychological ones such as depression and anxiety often continue.

Marijuana Withdrawal Timeline

Day 1:
During the first 24 hours of withdrawal, many people will experience irritability, difficulty sleeping, decreased appetite, restlessness, and cravings for the drug.
Day 2-7:
Over the next several days, some people will experience mental side effects, like anxiety, mild depression, and lack of motivation.
Day 8+:
After the first week of withdrawal, most side effects should subside, although cravings may continue to pop up.

Crack/Cocaine Withdrawal Timeline

Day 1-3:
Withdrawal symptoms can begin within the first few hours after the last dosage. Many people experience lethargy, irritability, depression, shaking, and heart complications such as arrhythmia.
Day 4-10:
Many people experience dehydration, insomnia, restlessness, nightmares, and drug cravings.
Day 11+:
For some people, their withdrawal symptoms continue longer than 10 days but should end after 4 weeks.

Adderall Withdrawal Timeline

Day 1-3:
Symptoms typically start within several hours of the last dosage. Many people experience feeling exhausted, difficulty concentrating, hunger, and depression.
Day 4-7:
Symptoms usually peak during this time and may include anxiety, body aches, insomnia, irritability, and nightmares.
Day 8+:
At this point, the main symptoms tend to be psychological, including depression, as well as cravings for the drug.

Find a Detox Center in Los Angeles, CA

At Launch Centers in Los Angeles, we are committed to working with young people who suffer from addiction and helping them recover. If you need detox before entering our treatment, we can help you find a program that allows you to detox safely and comfortably, putting you on the right path to begin a new life in recovery. While we don’t offer detox services, we can help you find the care that you need at a drug and alcohol detox provider. Afterward, our services can help you or a loved one continue their recovery journey. Learn more about our admissions process and start living the successful, fulfilling life you deserve.

Detox Center In Los Angeles

What is Detox in Los Angeles Like?