Alcohol Detox Facilities in California

Not everyone who drinks alcohol is an alcoholic, and not every alcoholic needs to undergo detox. However, for those who experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking, or who have severe cravings to continue drinking alcohol, medically supervised treatment at one of the many alcohol detox facilities in California is recommended.

Alcohol use floods the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain, relaxing the body and reducing inhibitions. Constant drinking decreases the GABA transmitter response, which is why the user develops a tolerance and a craving for larger and larger doses to get the same relaxation effect. When the user stops drinking alcohol, the brain becomes hyperexcited, since it can no longer receive GABA. Irritability, tremors and seizures can result. Other withdrawal symptoms can include delirium tremens, which has up to a five percent mortality rate.

Medical supervision of detox can prevent severe reactions. Diarrhea, vomiting and excessive sweating disturb the electrolyte balance in the body, so fluids may need to be administered intravenously. A benzodiazepine such as Xanax or Valium may be prescribed to prevent seizures. Long-term effects of alcohol use, such as liver damage, may also need to be treated during detox.

Your Resource for Detox Facilities in California

At SoberRecovery.com, we have compiled a listing of reputable detox facilities in California for you to use. Some of these treatment centers focus only on alcoholism, while others treat dual or multiple diagnoses. You can also use our filters to select a treatment center that specializes in a specific type of client, to find a treatment center in your area, or to select a facility that will work with you to set up a payment plan.

We strongly encourage you to go to a detox facility, since you have a better chance of recovery in that situation. Repeated attempts to detox from alcohol on your own will make the withdrawal symptoms more severe each time. Do it right the first time.

Safe Recovery at Drug Detox Centers

There are basically three methods for stopping drug abuse: cold turkey, tapering off, and detox. Which one you should use depends on several factors, including what type of drug you have been using, how long you have been using it, how much you use each day, and your own ability to control your actions.

Going cold turkey, or stopping suddenly and completely, is only recommended when you have been using a relatively less addictive drug such as marijuana, have been using for a short time, and have not been using heavily each day. In all other situations, going cold turkey will have results ranging from very uncomfortable to possibly fatal.

The brain become used to being flooded by chemicals ingested by the user, and sudden withdrawal causes a strong reaction. Heroin, for example, suppresses the middle part of the brain called the locus coeruleus, which regulates the “flight or fight” response, and makes the user feel safe. When there’s no more heroin flowing to the brain, the user rebounds into paranoia, rage, and other “flight or fight” emotions.

Tapering off your use of drugs can help moderate withdrawal symptoms, but for many people, especially those who use highly addictive drugs, it simply isn’t possible to do that. The addiction is too strong and too well engrained. In these cases, drug detox centers are the safest route to recovery.

Options in Drug Detox Centers

There are several different methods of detox, and their use will vary depending on the drug detox centers and the type of drug. One method is the substitution of a less dangerous drug, such as giving methadone to wean addicts from heroin. Other drugs, such as Clonidine, block withdrawal symptoms. There are also some drug detox centers that use a rapid detox technique that must be done under general anesthesia and calls for the use of a breathing tube. Any of these techniques can have their own side effects, and must be done in a medically supervised environment.

Most people who enter alcohol and drug rehab need alcohol or drug detox. It’s normal for people to continue drinking or taking drugs up to the day they enter drug or alcohol treatment. This is not only because they enjoy the effect, but also because by the time someone goes into alcohol or drug rehab the withdrawal symptoms are likely to be bad enough to encourage them to keep using.

Alcohol and Drug Detox Options

Some alcohol and drug detox centers offer more options than others. Some will have their own state-licensed facilities while others may contract with private companies or hospitals to provide medical detox.

Medical detox generally uses a mild form of medication to safely ease a person off of alcohol or drugs with as little discomfort as possible. Going through detox from alcohol or benzodiazepines can result in severe withdrawal symptoms, such as hallucinations or life-threatening seizures. It is always advised that someone coming into alcohol and drug rehab with these addictions receive a medical detox. Some alcohol and drug detox centers also offer holistic therapies during this process, such as acupuncture and massage, to stimulate the body to help release toxins and minimize withdrawal symptoms.

It is never recommended that individuals go “cold-turkey” off alcohol or drugs. As mentioned, this could result in life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Some likely symptoms for withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines and opiate-based drugs (codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycontin, heroin) include headaches, nausea, body-aches, night sweats, night terrors, restlessness, insomnia, hallucinations and in extreme cases, convulsions. Withdrawal from stimulants such as cocaine, crack and methamphetamines generally results in heavy fatigue, depression and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. A lot of rest is required in the initial days of detox. Medical detox serves as the safest form of withdrawal from drugs and alcohol for most drugs.

Alcohol and Drug Detox for You

Inquire about the best alcohol and drug detox for you prior to deciding on a treatment center. Some facilities may require that you arrive at check-in already detoxed. Others may offer a state-licensed facility on site. Find out what kind of detox options they have and make sure you’re comfortable with it. Remember, alcohol and drug detox is the first step toward a healthy new life in sobriety. Don’t short-change yourself and suffer through the withdrawal process if you don’t have to. It could make all the difference between staying sober and falling back into alcoholism or drug addiction.

Alcohol depresses the Central Nervous System (CNS), which has a central role in the coordination of activity and control of behavior. This is why excessive alcohol intake results in impaired judgment, movement and behavior. Ceasing the presence of alcohol by going “cold turkey” after a prolonged period of drinking can cause the CNS to rebound too quickly, resulting in anxiety, nervousness, tremors, shakes and life-threatening seizures. Alcohol detox should always be medically supervised in order to ensure a safe withdrawal.

The process of going through alcohol detox results in a variety of symptoms that range from mild to severe. Mild withdrawal symptoms include typical hangover symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, perspiration, restlessness, agitation, loss of appetite and insomnia. But for the alcoholic who has been drinking heavily and consistently for a long period of time, severe withdrawal symptoms can include night sweats, night terrors, auditory or visual hallucinations, convulsions and the DTs (dilirium tremens). Fear of alcohol detox and the accompanying symptoms keeps many alcoholics drinking long after they know they need to stop. There are three types of alcohol detox available:

Cold Turkey

Cold turkey derived its name from the goose bumps that arise during the process of withdrawal from alcohol, drugs or nicotine.  You just stop drinking alcohol and white knuckle through the withdrawal symptoms as they come. It’s estimated that 1 in 4 people are at risk for a seizure if they choose to go cold turkey rather than receive medical care during alcohol detox.

Medical Detox

The safest form of alcohol detox is a medical detox. Individuals receive mild prescription medication to help ease them through the most dangerous phase of alcohol detox where the potential for seizure is greatest. Hospitals or drug rehab centers state-licensed for medical detox offer these services. Individuals undergoing medical detox receive medication in tapering amounts until their body is physically stabilized and they are able to enter an inpatient alcohol rehab program. This is the most prevalent and comfortable form of alcohol detox available.

NeuroTransmiter Restoration Therapy (NTR)

NeuroTransmiter Restoration Therapy (NTR) is a relatively new alcohol detox process offered by only a few select drug and alcohol rehabs in the United States. NTR utilizes an all-natural amino acid and mineral solution that coats the brain’s neurotransmitter receptor sites where most of the damage from drug and alcohol abuse occurs. This process stimulates the body’s cells to shift into repair mode, easing withdrawal symptoms, cravings and the fogginess that can accompany alcohol detox. In spite of its benefits, NTR is generally combined with medical detox as prescription medication is often necessary to ease alcoholic individuals past the danger stage when life-threatening convulsions can occur.

Drug detox facilities are often medical centers or residential treatment facilities where drug addicts can go to begin a drug rehabilitation program. Drug detox programs are used to ease or relieve drug withdrawal symptoms while cleansing an addict’s body of any drugs or toxins; drug detoxification is not meant to treat drug addiction but is the first step in long-term treatment program. Detoxification might be achieved drug free or with the use of medications as an aspect of treatment. Often drug detoxification and treatment will occur in a residential program that lasts several months.

Alcohol detox facilities are also often medical centers or residential treatment facilities where alcoholics can go to attend an alcohol rehabilitation program. Alcohol detoxification is a process by which a heavy drinker’s body is cleansed of any alcohol and toxins. Abrupt withdrawal from long-term alcohol addiction and abuse without medical management can cause severe health risks and can be fatal. Alcohol detox is not a complete treatment for alcoholism. After detoxification, other treatments must be undertaken to deal with the underlying addiction that caused the alcohol abuse.

Inpatient or outpatient detox facilities?

Detoxification facilities can be either an outpatient basis (mental health centers, addiction clinics or private clinics) or inpatient (hospital or residential treatment centers). Inpatient detoxification lets the patient be closely monitored, avoids exposure to the substance of abuse, and can speed up the process of detoxification. Outpatient detoxification has the advantage of being less disruptive to the patient’s life and the least expensive option. The choice of inpatient or outpatient facility depends on many factors such as the drug of abuse, amount and length of history of abuse, psychosocial issues, patient’s age, and co-existing medical and/or psychiatric conditions among others.

While treatment centers often have their own detoxification facilities, others make arrangements for their patients with detoxification programs at nearby sites, including hospitals and clinics. There are licensed detoxification facilities in most areas of the United States.