Drug and Alcohol Detox Center in California
Detox is the first step in treating addiction. If you’re looking for a detox center in California, San Diego Detox can help.
What is Detoxification?
Detoxification Process and Definition
Where Can Treatment be Found?
Millions of people struggle with addiction every year, including many people in California. If you’re looking for a detox center in California, San Diego Detox can help. San Diego Detox is a comprehensive rehabilitation facility that offers inpatient and outpatient treatment services. The center specializes in treating addiction to drugs and alcohol, as well as co-occurring mental health disorders. Staff members at San Diego Detox are experienced and qualified professionals who are dedicated to helping patients achieve long-term sobriety.
How Long Does Detox Take?
The length of detox can vary based on the patient’s personal needs and the severity of the addiction. Most detox programs range from three to seven days long, but some individuals may still experience cravings more than a week after they have stopped using a substance.


What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox?
When someone has a substance abuse issue, treatment is often required for proper support and recovery. One of the first phases in the treatment process is detox. Addiction detox involves the body flushing the toxins from the substance out of its system, which will usually lead to withdrawal symptoms that can range from mild to more severe depending on the person, the substance that was abused, and the severity of usage. Detox programs are essential for people to achieve sobriety and be able to focus on the rest of their recovery program going forward.
What Happens During an Alcohol or Drug Detox?
During the drug addiction detox process, the first step is to stop all drug use. Once drug use has been stopped, withdrawal symptoms will likely set in within the next twelve to twenty-four hours.
Withdrawal symptoms can be serious, but detoxing at a treatment center will ensure that professionals will be there every step of the way to make the process as safe and comfortable as possible. Medications may also be used during detox treatment to help ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent a relapse from occurring.
Process Of Detoxification
During the process of an addiction detox, the patient will undergo evaluation by a medical professional, and stabilization measures will be taken to ensure the detox is as safe and effective as possible.
Evaluation
The evaluation stage of the detoxing process involves a medical assessment of a patient’s physical and mental health. The medical assessment will help give an overview of the patient’s needs in order to make the treatment process as successful as possible.
Stabilization
The stabilization phase of a detox from drugs involves medical support and care that will make detox treatment as successful as possible. A drug detox center will help with stabilization by providing around-the-clock support and resources.


What Happens During a Medically Assisted Drug or Alcohol Detox?
During a medically assisted detox, there will be many phases and elements that lead to a successful detox and recovery.
Medical Assessment
Withdrawal
When you or a loved one stop using drugs or alcohol, withdrawal symptoms will set in. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to severe. Due to the severity of some withdrawal symptoms, medical supervision is necessary to keep patients safe during this time. This is why substance abuse detox centers can help during this time to ensure the best possible levels of care.
Medication
Medication for detoxification may also be used during this time. This will help ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent a relapse from occurring. Medications that are used during a detox from drugs are scientifically studied and proven to have positive results for addiction treatment.
Around-the-Clock Support
During inpatient drug detoxification at a treatment center, you or your loved ones will have around-the-clock medical support and supervision. This is one of the reasons that inpatient drug detoxification is so beneficial and leads to the best possible results.
A Deeper Look at the Drug Rehab Process
Benefits of a Medically Supervised Detox
If you are looking for detox treatment options, a medically supervised detox can be very beneficial by making the detox process as safe and easy as possible. Common benefits of a medically supervised detox include:
Detoxing Is Not a Solo Endeavor
If you’re struggling with addiction, you don’t have to go through it alone. All of these benefits make it worth going to a treatment center for a medically supervised detox program.


Side Effects of Detox
During the detox process, there will likely be some side effects that occur. Knowing what to expect can help make the detox process less scary and help improve the overall result.
Nervousness or Anxiety
Many people experience some degree of anxiety or nervousness when detoxing. Nervousness and anxiety can be due to withdrawal symptoms from the drugs themselves or a fear of the unknown with the treatment process.
Insomnia
Insomnia is common during detoxing, as the body needs time to adjust to not receiving whatever substance it was so used to. Insomnia typically happens within the first three days of detoxing and usually doesn’t last for longer than two weeks.
Nausea
Nausea and vomiting are common during a drug or alcohol detox. These symptoms usually last for one to two days before subsiding.
Body Discomfort
One of the body’s natural responses to a detox program may be discomfort. People will generally experience headaches, fatigue, or muscle aches and pains during this time. These symptoms generally last no longer than two weeks after stopping drug or alcohol consumption.
Mood Swings
Some people experience mood swings when they detox. These are typically in the form of irritability, anger, aggressiveness, and depression because the body is cleansing itself from toxins that have been stored over time.
Poor Sleep
A lot of people find that their sleep patterns change during detox. For some, this may mean interrupted nights of sleep, while others may see other changes in their sleep schedule. Poor sleep during detox may also be caused by other side effects like being lightheaded or nauseous.
Difficulty Concentrating
It’s common to experience difficulty concentrating during detox. This is a big adjustment period for the body as many toxins are being removed from the body’s system. This can lead to fatigue and other factors that impact the ability to focus.


How to Prevent Side Effects from Detox
When going through a detox treatment program, there are many ways to prevent side effects from detox. Treatment professionals at a drug treatment center are educated on how to prevent or ease withdrawal symptoms to make this process as comfortable as possible. Common ways to prevent side effects from detox include the following.
Taking Prescribed Detox Medications
Medications may be available that can help ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse. Medically supervised detox programs will provide you with the right medications and dosages to help you during the detox process.
Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated before and after beginning a detox program is important. Being hydrated will help flush toxins out of the body’s system faster and can help reduce the overall detox period.
Starting a Detox Program as Soon as Possible
Many people only decide to enter a detox program once they realize that withdrawal symptoms are too serious to manage on their own. However, if you enter a detox program right away, it will likely prevent you from having to experience any severe withdrawal symptoms in the first place.
Continuing Onto a Full Drug Addiction Treatment Program After Detox
How Long Does Detox Last?
Detox from drugs or alcohol will typically last between three to seven days. However, even after the initial detox withdrawal symptoms have gone away, some may still experience cravings in the weeks following. There are a few factors that can impact how long the detox process is, and this varies from person to person.
How Much of a Substance Was Consumed
One of the factors that can affect how long detox lasts is how much alcohol or drugs the individual was consuming before the detox started. Typically, those with a substance abuse disorder that was more severe will experience more withdrawal symptoms and the detox process will take longer. However, several other factors can also contribute, so the length of detox will be different for everyone.
The Severity of the Withdrawal Symptoms
Those who experience more severe withdrawal symptoms will require a longer detox program. Withdrawal symptoms that are more severe can have serious side effects on someone’s health and wellbeing if they aren’t treated properly. This is why proper medical supervision is important during detox from alcohol or drugs.
Physical and Mental Functioning
The physical or mental health of an individual can also contribute to how long it takes to detox. Someone with physical health issues may have detox side effects that affect their body more harshly and take a longer time to recover from. Someone who struggles with mental health issues may experience detox side effects like anxiety or depression more intensely. Therapy and mental health care should be in place during a detox program to help prevent this from occurring.


Some Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
There are many different types of drug detox and substance abuse treatment programs available. Choosing the right program will depend on your own personal needs and the type of substance abuse disorder you or a loved one are struggling with.
Residential Treatment Program
If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, going to a residential treatment center may be a good option. A residential treatment program will provide around-the-clock support during the treatment process and puts you in a safe and stable environment that helps prevent relapse.
Outpatient Program
For those with an addiction that is less severe or who can’t leave family or work responsibilities while they’re receiving treatment, outpatient treatment may also be a good option. Outpatient programs require you to go to a treatment center at designated times throughout the week while you work through a recovery program. Outpatient programs aren’t for everyone, as they require additional accountability and self-management during treatment.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Programs
A treatment program for recreational or prescription drug use will involve detox as well as behavioral therapy to work on coping mechanisms to manage the addiction and any other underlying conditions that are contributing to the substance abuse issue. Drug addiction treatment programs teach patients life skills that are needed to manage the stresses of life without the use of drugs. Alcohol treatment might involve programs like Alcoholics Anonymous as well.
Heroin Addiction Treatment Program
When someone struggles with heroin addiction, the detox process can be difficult and requires medical supervision during detox. Heroin addiction treatment programs will also provide you with therapy and other resources that help you manage other underlying conditions over time.
Opioid Addiction Treatment Program
Opioid addiction is a very prevalent issue that affects millions of people every year. An opioid addiction treatment program will help with detoxing, learning how to cope with the stresses of life without opioid use, and working through any underlying conditions that are contributing to the opioid addiction.
Why is the Opioid Epidemic so Prolific?
Veterans Treatment Program
Due to several factors such as PTSD and troubles transitioning back into everyday life after combat, veterans may be more likely to struggle with addiction. Veteran treatment programs are tailor-made for veterans and can help with any underlying conditions or circumstances that may be contributing to the addiction.
Begin Recovery with Drug and Alcohol Detox at San Diego Detox
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, San Diego Detox can help. The center offers inpatient and outpatient treatment services that are tailored to meet the needs of each individual patient. Staff members at San Diego Detox are experienced and qualified professionals who are dedicated to helping patients achieve long-term sobriety. To begin your recovery journey, contact San Diego Detox today.


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