If you or someone you love is in crisis right now, including overdose, severe withdrawal symptoms, or thoughts of self-harm, call 911 or 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). Severe alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal can be life-threatening and may require emergency medical care before formal detox. Villa’s admissions team can help you decide on next steps; call (818) 639-7160 any time.
Substances We Treat in Medical Detox
Medical detox is required for safe withdrawal from substances where unmedicated withdrawal carries significant medical risk. Villa’s program treats:
- Alcohol
Alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), and other life-threatening complications; medical detox with benzodiazepine taper protocols is the standard of care
- Opioids
Prescription pain medications (oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl), heroin, methadone, and other opioids; medical detox uses buprenorphine induction, clonidine, and supportive medications to manage withdrawal
- Benzodiazepines
Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium and others; benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause seizures and is medically dangerous; structured taper over weeks is the standard approach
- Stimulants
Cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription stimulants; while stimulant withdrawal is not medically dangerous, structured supervision supports the depression and intense cravings that follow
- Polysubstance use
Multiple substances together require careful sequencing of detox protocols; this is the most clinically complex presentation and requires the closest medical supervision
- Prescription drugs
Sleep medications, certain antidepressants, and other prescription substances with discontinuation syndromes
Medical detox is typically the first level of care for substance use disorder. After detox, most clients step directly into residential treatment or partial hospitalization (PHP) for the longer therapeutic work that detox alone cannot provide.
What Detox Looks Like at Villa
Medical detox runs 5 to 10 days for most substances. Specific length varies based on the substance, dose, duration of use, and individual physiological response. Typical timelines:
Alcohol Detox
- 5 to 7 days; symptoms typically peak at 24-72 hours after the last drink, with risk of seizures and DTs in this window
Opioid Detox
- 5 to 10 days for short-acting opioids; methadone detox can run 2 to 3 weeks due to the longer half-life
Benzodiazepine Detox
- typically 2 to 4 weeks with structured taper; abrupt discontinuation is dangerous, so longer protocols are standard
Polysubstance Detox
- 7 to 14 days, with prioritized sequencing depending on substances and clinical risk
During detox, clients receive:
24/7 Medical Monitoring
- vital signs, withdrawal symptom assessment using validated scales (CIWA-Ar for alcohol, COWS for opioids), medical evaluation
FDA-approved Withdrawal Medications
- benzodiazepine taper for alcohol, buprenorphine for opioids, clonidine for autonomic symptoms, anti-nausea medications, sleep support
Comfort Measures
- hydration, nutritional support, rest in private accommodations
Initial Therapy Contact
- brief therapy sessions begin during detox once the client is medically stable, easing the transition into residential programming
Discharge Planning Into Next Level of Care
- most clients move directly into residential, PHP, or IOP after detox; planning starts during detox
The first contact runs 30 to 60 minutes for clinical and medical assessment, insurance verification, and admissions coordination. Detox intake is scheduled based on bed availability and clinical urgency.
Medications Used During Medical Detox
Medications used during detox manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce medical risk, and support comfort. Specific medications are matched to the substance and the individual’s medical profile:
- For Alcohol Withdrawal – benzodiazepines (lorazepam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide) on a taper schedule; thiamine and folate supplementation; anti-nausea medications; magnesium and other electrolyte support as needed
- For Opioid Withdrawal – buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) for induction and stabilization; clonidine or lofexidine for autonomic symptoms; loperamide for diarrhea; ondansetron for nausea; sleep-supportive medications
- For Benzodiazepine Withdrawal – structured taper using a long-acting benzodiazepine (often diazepam or chlordiazepoxide); anti-seizure medications when indicated; gradual dose reduction over weeks
- For Stimulant Withdrawal – supportive medications for sleep, anxiety, and depression during the post-acute phase; no FDA-approved medication exists for stimulant detox specifically, but symptomatic care is standard
- Coordination with Mental Health Medications – psychiatric medications for co-occurring conditions (depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar, ADHD) are continued, adjusted, or initiated as part of the integrated care plan; see dual diagnosis treatment
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) initiation – for opioid use disorder, buprenorphine or naltrexone often starts during detox and continues into residential and continued care phases for sustained craving and relapse-risk reduction.
All medications are prescribed and monitored by board-certified physicians and managed by trained nursing staff during detox. The medical team is reviewed by Dr. Courtney Scott, MD, our medical director.
How Detox Connects to Ongoing Treatment
Detox addresses physical withdrawal but does not address the psychological, behavioral, and life patterns that drive substance use. Without continued treatment after detox, relapse rates approach 90%. Villa’s program is built around the seamless transition from detox into longer therapeutic care.
Most clients step directly from detox into:
- Residential treatment – 30 to 90 days of live-in care; the 90-day length has the strongest research outcomes for substance use disorders
- Partial hospitalization (PHP) – 5-6 hours/day, 5 days/week, when residential is not clinically necessary or when home environment supports safe programming
- Continued Care – 3 hours/day, 3 days/week, for clients with strong support
- Continued dual diagnosis treatment when mental health and substance use are addressed together
Care is delivered by the same clinical team across detox and the next level of care, providing continuity rather than fragmented hand-offs between providers.
Conditions and Presentations We Support During Detox
Medical detox is integrated with mental health treatment for clients with co-occurring conditions:
- Substance use with depression – see depression treatment; antidepressant medication management often begins during detox
- Substance use with anxiety – see anxiety treatment; careful management of withdrawal anxiety vs underlying anxiety disorder
- Substance use with PTSD or trauma – see PTSD treatment; trauma frequently underlies substance use
- Substance use with bipolar disorder – see bipolar disorder treatment; mood stabilizer continuity through detox
- Substance use with ADHD – see adult ADHD treatment; careful management of stimulant medication coordination
- Polysubstance use – the most clinically complex presentation requires close medical supervision and coordinated medication protocols
For co-occurring presentations, see dual diagnosis treatment for the integrated care framework.
Insurance, Cost and Admissions
Villa Treatment Center is in-network with Aetna, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross of California, Health Net, and MHN, and works with most other major carriers on an out-of-network basis. Medical detox is typically well-covered under the behavioral health benefit, particularly when documented as medically necessary, which is the standard for alcohol, opioid, and benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Verification takes 15 minutes by phone or 24 hours by online form. Self-pay rates and payment plans are available. Admissions can walk through what your specific plan covers and what your out-of-pocket costs would be on the same call.
Detox intake is scheduled urgently when needed; same-day admission is sometimes possible based on bed availability and clinical urgency. To start: call (818) 639-7160 or use the insurance verification form.
Serving Woodland Hills, the San Fernando Valley, and Greater Los Angeles
Villa’s detox program is delivered on-site at our Woodland Hills facility, accessible from Calabasas, Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Northridge, West Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda, Van Nuys, Hidden Hills, Bell Canyon, Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Glendale, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu, and the broader Los Angeles County. For clients traveling from outside the LA area, transportation coordination is available.
Medical detox requires being on-site for 24/7 medical monitoring; telehealth is not appropriate for the acute withdrawal phase. After detox is complete, telehealth is available for ongoing therapy and medication management across California for clients who who transition to continued care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is medical detox and how does it work?
Medical detox is medically supervised withdrawal management for alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances. It uses FDA-approved medications to manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce medical risk, and support comfort during the 5 to 10 days when a substance is leaving the body. Board-certified physicians and trained nursing staff provide 24/7 monitoring with validated assessment tools (CIWA-Ar for alcohol, COWS for opioids).
How long does medical detox take?
Length depends on the substance: alcohol detox typically runs 5-7 days, opioid detox 5-10 days, benzodiazepine detox 2-4 weeks (longer due to seizure risk with abrupt discontinuation), polysubstance detox 7-14 days. Specific length is determined during the medical assessment and adjusted based on individual response.
What withdrawal symptoms can I expect?
Symptoms vary by substance. Alcohol withdrawal can cause anxiety, tremors, sweating, nausea, and in severe cases seizures or delirium tremens. Opioid withdrawal causes flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, restlessness, and intense cravings. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause anxiety, sleep problems, and seizures with abrupt discontinuation. Medications used during detox substantially reduce symptom severity.
Is medical detox covered by insurance?
Most major insurance plans cover medical detox under the behavioral health benefit, particularly for alcohol, opioid, and benzodiazepine withdrawal where medical detox is the documented standard of care. Aetna, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net, MHN, and others are commonly accepted. Verification takes 15 minutes; call (818) 639-7160.
Can I detox at home instead?
For alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines, at-home detox is medically risky. Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause seizures and life-threatening complications. Opioid withdrawal is rarely medically dangerous but is intensely uncomfortable, leading to high relapse rates without medical support. Medical detox provides the medications, monitoring, and structure that significantly improve safety and treatment outcomes. For stimulants, at-home detox is not medically dangerous but rarely supports the next steps of treatment.
What happens after detox?
Most clients step directly into residential treatment, PHP, or IOP after detox. Detox addresses physical withdrawal but not the patterns that drive substance use; relapse rates approach 90% without continued treatment. Discharge planning starts during detox so the transition to the next level of care is seamless. The same clinical team typically continues across detox and the next level.
What if I have mental health conditions too?
Villa is licensed to treat co-occurring disorders. Psychiatric medications for depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or ADHD are continued, adjusted, or initiated during detox as part of the integrated care plan. After detox, dual diagnosis treatment addresses both substance use and mental health together.
Is medical detox confidential?
All behavioral health treatment is protected by HIPAA. Substance use disorder treatment carries additional federal protection under 42 CFR Part 2, which is stronger than HIPAA. For executives and high-profile clients, additional discretion measures are available; see executive treatment.
Do I need a referral?
No. Most insurance plans do not require a referral for substance use treatment, though some HMO plans do. Call (818) 639-7160 or use the verification form and admissions will confirm during the insurance check.