Alcohol Detox in Los Angeles

The best way to detox from alcohol is through medically supervised treatment.

The alcohol detox process typically involves four key phases:

1. By testing your drinking patterns and taking health screens as well as blood samples, medical professionals will evaluate your alcohol consumption tendencies, general health, and the likelihood of withdrawal risk.
2. Physicians use approved drugs by FDA, such as benzodiazepines, to medicate the withdrawal effects safely as the body flushes out the alcohol.
3. The staff of the health institutions monitor the vital signs and symptoms to avert threatening complications.
4. Upon detox, patients are normally taken to a rehab program or undergo therapy in order to avoid relapse.

The stages of alcohol detox typically follow a timeline based on withdrawal severity:

Stage 1: Early Withdrawal 

• Nausea, lack of sleep, anxiety, and sweating.
• Tremors, mild (the shakes).

Stage 2: Peak Withdrawal 

• High blood pressure, increased heart rate.
• Hallucinations (severe cases).
• Potential to have seizures

Stage 3: Subsiding Symptoms 

• Symptoms are reduced gradually.
• Desires and weariness might continue to exist.

Stage 4: Post-Acute Withdrawal 

• Difficulty in sleeping and continued cravings
• Requires ongoing therapy/support

​​Withdrawal Symptoms

Expect unpleasant yet transient withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, perspiration, anxiety, and insomnia. During medically supervised detox, if severe symptoms such as convulsions or hallucinations occur, the doctors are able to administer immediate treatment.

The First 72 Hours Are Most Critical

Expect the withdrawal period to hit its highest level 24-72 hours following the last time you drank. This is when symptoms that can be dangerous are most likely to be experienced; thus, professional medical care would be important in such a high-risk window.

Cravings Will Trick You

Your brain will scream for alcohol to “make it stop.” Such cravings are expected by medical teams, and they have ways (distraction, medication, therapy) to help you ride out the urge.

Alcohol dependence isn’t always obvious.  A lot of individuals who consistently have more than 8-10 beverages per week or who binge on a minimum of 4 or more punches of drinks, rationalize it all as a case of social drinking. Yet these are key signs of alcohol addiction, and without treatment, withdrawal can become dangerous.

To seek help, one should be aware of the signs that indicate alcohol addiction, such as drinking more to feel the effects of alcohol, trying to stop but without success, or persistent drinking despite the bad effects. The following are the most common signs to watch out for:

• Using alcohol to calm the nerves or regularly turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism for life stressors
• Alcohol as a sleeping aid
• Also, drinking so as not to be hung over so much

In case some of those signs seem familiar to you, our recommendation is to consider professional help.

Once you decide it is time to leave alcohol dependence behind you, you need professional help that will not only ensure your safety but also your comfort. At The House of Life, we’ve designed an alcohol detox program that addresses every aspect of recovery:

Experienced Professionals

We have a skilled hospital staff that treats addiction; they have seen it thousands of times with hundreds of others. No bias, only genuine experience. They will be attentive to you and apply the appropriate medications to keep you safe and as comfortable as possible.

A Place That Doesn’t Feel Like a Hospital

You will be healing in a calm, personal room. We turn the lights down, turn down the noise, and allow you to rest. Small gestures, but they count when you are not feeling yourself.

Honest Help for What Comes Next

It is only the beginning of detox. We will have a meeting with you (or your family, should you like) before you leave and help you to plan what actual recovery will be like, be it rehab, therapy, or support groups.

Ready to talk? We’re here 24/7.