Physician-led medical detox in the Hollywood Hills, and the first of five steps in one place: detox, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and alumni. The same care team stays with you from the first 72 hours through the year that follows.
Withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines is medically serious. Some withdrawal syndromes — alcohol and benzo in particular — can be life-threatening without clinical management. Detox at Bliss Recovery is physician-directed, 24/7, and structured to be as safe and comfortable as the clinical situation allows.
Detox is step 1 of 5 in the continuum of care. It addresses physical dependence — not the psychological and behavioral dimensions of addiction. Residential treatment follows immediately after detox. Learn about residential treatment →
Medical detox is the supervised process of safely removing substances from the body while managing withdrawal symptoms. It is not treatment for addiction — it is the clinical prerequisite that makes treatment possible. Without it, the physical demands of withdrawal prevent meaningful engagement with therapy.
At Bliss Recovery, detox is physician-directed. A Medical Director is assigned to each client and oversees the detox protocol from start to finish — including medication selection, dose adjustments, and the transition plan into residential care.
Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause seizures that are fatal without medical intervention. Opioid withdrawal is rarely fatal in otherwise healthy adults — but the severity of symptoms makes unsupervised withdrawal a primary driver of relapse and overdose in the first 72 hours after stopping use.
Medical supervision means a physician reviews your status regularly, medications are adjusted based on objective clinical data, and a nurse is available around the clock. If something changes, the clinical team responds immediately.
Alcohol & benzodiazepines — The most medically serious. Seizures and delirium tremens (DTs) are possible within 24–72 hours of last use. Detox typically takes 5–10 days and requires close medical monitoring throughout, including vital sign tracking and medication management with benzodiazepines or phenobarbital.
Opioids — Intensely uncomfortable but rarely dangerous in otherwise healthy adults. Symptoms peak at 48–72 hours and include nausea, muscle pain, insomnia, and anxiety. Medication-assisted protocols using buprenorphine significantly reduce discomfort. Typical duration: 7–14 days.
Stimulants — No defined physical withdrawal syndrome, but significant psychological symptoms including fatigue, depression, and cravings. Medical support focuses on sleep, nutrition, and psychiatric monitoring. Duration varies widely.
Intake begins with a comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation. Your Medical Director reviews substance history, co-occurring conditions, current medications, and any prior withdrawal history. This informs the detox protocol — what medications, what monitoring, what the expected timeline looks like for your specific situation.
Call our admissions team. We answer 24/7 and can verify your insurance in the same conversation.
Begin admissions →Detox medications exist to do two things: prevent dangerous complications and reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. The specific medications used depend on the substances involved and your individual clinical picture. Your Medical Director will explain the full protocol before anything is administered.
For alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal: benzodiazepines (typically diazepam or lorazepam) or phenobarbital, used in a monitored taper. For opioid withdrawal: buprenorphine (Suboxone) is the current standard of care and dramatically reduces withdrawal severity. Adjunctive medications address specific symptoms: clonidine for anxiety and autonomic symptoms, antiemetics for nausea, sleep support, and pain management as indicated.
Withdrawal symptoms vary by substance, duration of use, and individual physiology. Understanding what to expect — and having a clinical team that monitors and responds to each symptom — makes the process dramatically more manageable.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders. MAT is not substituting one drug for another — it is evidence-based clinical care that addresses the neurobiological dimensions of addiction directly.
Call our admissions team. We answer 24/7 and can verify your insurance in the same conversation.
Begin admissions →
Home detox is one of the most commonly underestimated medical risks in addiction treatment. For alcohol and benzodiazepines, withdrawal can be fatal without clinical management — delirium tremens, grand mal seizures, and cardiac complications are predictable clinical events in severe cases, not rare exceptions.
Detox without psychiatric attention misses half the picture. Co-occurring depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms emerge clearly once substances are removed — and they require clinical attention from day one.
Leaving detox before it is medically complete — against medical advice (AMA) — carries real risk. For alcohol and benzo withdrawal, the risk window extends past the point where clients often feel "good enough to leave." Symptom relief does not mean the withdrawal syndrome is complete.
If you are thinking about leaving, tell your clinical team directly. There is a reason you came in, and there is a reason the clinical team wants you to stay. That conversation is always available — no judgment, no pressure beyond what the medicine requires.
If you have already left AMA and are reconsidering: call us. Returning to care is always an option. It is a clinically sound decision, and your team will work with you.
The hardest part of detox isn't the withdrawal — it's the first 24 hours of deciding to stay. After that, the medicine takes over, and the clinical team does the rest.
Detox addresses the physical dimension of dependence. It is necessary — but it is not treatment for addiction. The evidence is clear: detox alone, without follow-on treatment, is associated with very high relapse rates. Residential treatment is what follows detox at Bliss Recovery, and the transition is seamless — your care team carries through.
Detox is the hardest week of the recovery process. Where it happens matters. Each client at Bliss Recovery occupies a private bedroom in a Hollywood Hills estate — not a shared clinical unit, not an institutional setting. Canyon views, morning light, and a calm private environment reduce the ambient stress load during withdrawal, and the clinical literature is clear: environment affects outcomes.
No. Detox safely removes substances from the body and manages withdrawal. It addresses physical dependence but does not treat the psychological and emotional dimensions of addiction. Residential treatment follows detox and is where the deeper work of recovery happens.
Timeline varies by substance, duration of use, and individual physiology. Alcohol and benzodiazepine detox typically takes 5–10 days. Opioid detox typically takes 7–14 days. Your Medical Director will give you an honest timeline based on your specific situation.
For alcohol and benzodiazepines specifically, home detox carries serious medical risk — including seizure risk that can be fatal. For opioids and stimulants, home detox is medically safer but significantly more uncomfortable and carries high relapse risk. Medically supervised detox produces safer, more comfortable outcomes across all substance types.
Most clients receive some form of medication support during detox. The specific medications depend on the substances involved and your individual medical history. Your Medical Director will explain the protocol clearly before anything is administered.
Most PPO plans cover medically necessary detox when clinical criteria are met. Verify your insurance — confidentially, and without obligation — to understand your specific coverage.
Bliss Recovery is in-network with HealthSmart, MultiPlan, PMCS, and TriWest and works with most major PPO insurance plans on an out-of-network basis, which often cover the majority of treatment costs. Our admissions team will verify your benefits in full before any commitment is made and will give you a clear, honest picture of out-of-pocket costs.
Cost depends on insurance coverage, length of stay, and program level. Most major PPO plans cover medically necessary detox — our admissions team verifies your benefits before any commitment is made. For clients paying privately, all costs are discussed transparently on a confidential call. We do not publish rates because coverage varies widely; a number without your insurance information would be misleading. Verify your insurance →
Private bedrooms, chef-prepared meals three times daily, outdoor spaces including canyon-view decks and garden areas, and a quiet residential environment. Our Hollywood Hills property is a private estate — not a hospital or clinical center. The amenity specifics depend on which residence you are placed in; our admissions team can walk you through the details.
Admissions begins with a confidential call — no forms, no obligation. An admissions coordinator reviews your substance history, insurance, and any questions you have. Insurance is verified in that same call when possible. If Bliss Recovery is a clinical and practical fit, your arrival can typically be arranged within 24 to 48 hours. Begin the admissions process →
Our medical team manages withdrawal around the clock — so you're comfortable and never alone during the hardest first days.
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}