Licensed detox · Sylmar, CAMedical Detox in Sylmar for alcohol, opioids, benzos & more
Medical detox is a safer way to stop drinking or using. Staff watch you around the clock while withdrawal runs its course, and medicine is given when you need it. At New Beginnings, medical detox happens in a six-bed home, and residential treatment follows in the same house.
Licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services · License 191315AP · Expires 4/30/2028
- DHCS-licensed detox
- Incidental Medical Services approved
- Checks every 30 minutes
- Six beds · adults 18+
What is medical detox?
If your body depends on alcohol or a drug, stopping brings withdrawal. Some withdrawal is just miserable. Some is dangerous. Alcohol and benzodiazepines can even cause seizures. In medical detox, trained staff watch you the whole time. A nurse tracks your vital signs, and a medical director decides when medicine can help.
Detox handles the withdrawal, not the addiction itself. So the usual next step is residential treatment, where the deeper work happens.
- What it is
- Getting through withdrawal with staff watching, plus rest, meals and medicine if needed
- How long
- Often 5 to 10 days, longer for some drugs
- Who it's for
- Adults whose body has come to depend on a substance and who can't safely stop alone
- Where here
- A licensed six-bed home in Sylmar, Los Angeles County
- What's next
- Residential treatment, usually in the same house
Is medical detox right for you?
Four questions. Answer for yourself or for the person you're worried about. Nothing you choose is saved or sent.
Do you drink every day, or use opioids, fentanyl or benzos most days?
When you've tried to stop, have you had shakes, sweats, a racing heart or a seizure?
Have you tried to quit on your own and couldn't stay stopped?
Right now: chest pain, trouble breathing, confusion, or thoughts of suicide?
Your answer
Answer the four questions.
Your result shows up here as you go.
Emergency
Call 911 now.
For thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. Get safe first, then call us about treatment.
Call 911Medical detox fits
Stopping alone may not be safe.
These signs point to physical dependence. Medical detox lets staff manage withdrawal as it happens. Call and we'll check fit, an open bed and your benefits.
Call (855) 627-3422Let's talk it through
You may not need detox.
Many people start with residential treatment or an outpatient program instead. Call anyway. If we're not the right fit, we'll point you to one that is.
Call (855) 627-3422Not a diagnosis. Only a medical professional can decide what care you need.
Why not just quit at home?
A sudden stop after heavy daily drinking or benzo use can bring seizures. They're most likely in the first two days.
DTs are a sudden, severe confusion. They tend to start 2 to 4 days after the last drink and need care right away.
Many people use again just to make withdrawal stop. With staff around, that urge passes more safely.
Tolerance drops during withdrawal. Going back to an old dose of opioids or fentanyl can be deadly.
Timing from MedlinePlus: alcohol withdrawal and MedlinePlus: delirium tremens.
How medical detox works here
- 1
Before you arrive
One phone call
Admissions asks what you use, how much, when you last used and about your health. We check fit and open beds on the call, and your PPO benefits soon after.
- 2
Arrival day
Intake and a plan
Our nurse does your intake and checks your vital signs. The medical director reviews your health and your medicines and sets your detox plan. Your phone is stored so you can rest.
- 3
The first days
Watched around the clock
Staff check on you every 30 minutes, day and night. Your vital signs are tracked on a schedule, and medicine is given when you need it. You rest in a bedroom, not a ward, and the chef cooks three meals a day.
- 4
As you steady
Starting to feel like yourself
When the worst has passed, you start meeting with our therapist, Mehrnaz Ravanbakhsh, LMFT, and joining groups. Most detox stays run 5 to 10 days.
- 5
After detox
Residential treatment, same house
The usual next step is residential treatment down the hall, with the same team. Checks continue every hour. If another program fits better, your case manager refers you before you leave.
What withdrawal looks like, and what we do
Every substance runs on its own clock. Pick one to see the typical pattern and what staff do at each stage. Using more than one? Tell us on the call, since each one needs its own plan.
Biggest risk: Seizures, mostly in the first 48 hours. Then DTs, a severe confusion that tends to start on day 2 to 4.
How hard it feels, typically
Last use
The first hours can feel normal. That's why people think they can handle it.
Here: We take your history and set a plan with the medical director right away.
Day 1
Tremors, sweating, an upset stomach and anxiety can begin as soon as 8 hours in.
Here: The nurse watches your pulse and blood pressure, and staff look in every 30 minutes.
Days 2–3
This is usually the hardest stretch. Seizure risk is highest early on.
Here: Rounds stay every 30 minutes, overnight too. Medicine is used when the doctor orders it.
Days 4–7
Symptoms start to fade, but DTs can still show up, most often by day 4.
Here: Staff know the early signs of DTs. If they appear, we call 911 without waiting.
Weeks 2–4
Sleep and mood may stay off for a while after the shakes stop.
Here: You begin groups and one-on-one sessions in the same house.
After detox
The body has cleared, but the habit and the reasons for it are still there.
Here: Before you leave, your case manager lines up the next step with you.
Typical pattern, not a prediction. Sources: WHO withdrawal guidelines · MedlinePlus: alcohol withdrawal · MedlinePlus: delirium tremens
Biggest risk: Rarely dangerous by itself, but the period right after detox is. A lower tolerance makes an old dose risky.
How hard it feels, typically
Last use
You may feel okay at first. With fentanyl, the timing is harder to predict.
Here: Tell us exactly what you've been using, including pills and patches.
Day 1
Heroin withdrawal tends to begin within 12 hours. Methadone can take up to 30.
Here: As yawning, sweats, aches and cravings build, comfort care begins.
Days 2–3
Stomach cramps, chills, goosebumps and diarrhea. Many people say this is the worst part.
Here: We keep you hydrated and rested, and staff look in every 30 minutes.
Days 4–7
The physical symptoms ease over about a week.
Here: Your care team starts planning the next stage with you.
Weeks 2–4
Trouble sleeping and cravings can linger for weeks.
Here: Residential treatment continues under the same roof.
After detox
A dose you used to handle can now cause an overdose.
Here: Ask us about overdose risk and naloxone before you go.
Typical pattern, not a prediction. Sources: WHO withdrawal guidelines · MedlinePlus: opioid withdrawal · CDC: fentanyl
Biggest risk: Stopping all at once can cause seizures. That's why benzos are lowered slowly.
How hard it feels, typically
Last use
Xanax and other short-acting pills wear off fast. Valium-type pills take days.
Here: The medical director plans a slow step-down instead of a sudden stop.
Day 1
Restless, tense and unable to sleep.
Here: Staff check your symptoms and vital signs often.
Days 2–3
You may feel shaky and sweaty, and light or sound may bother you.
Here: Each next step depends on how you're handling the last one.
Days 4–7
Seizures are the main risk, mostly when a benzo is stopped suddenly.
Here: Going slowly lowers that risk, and rounds run every 30 minutes.
Weeks 2–4
Withdrawal commonly lasts 10 to 14 days, and some people take longer.
Here: Therapy can start while the step-down continues.
After detox
Anxiety and poor sleep may take months to fully settle.
Here: We help set up follow-up care before discharge.
Typical pattern, not a prediction. Sources: WHO withdrawal guidelines · FDA: benzodiazepine boxed warning · Pétursson 1994, Addiction
Biggest risk: Low mood can turn into thoughts of self-harm. Anyone thinking about suicide should call or text 988.
How hard it feels, typically
Last use
A heavy crash can start within hours of the last use.
Here: After intake, the first need is usually sleep in a quiet room.
Day 1
Very tired, very hungry and very low. The first day is often the most intense.
Here: Staff look in on you while you sleep it off.
Days 2–3
Irritable, down and craving.
Here: Staff check on mood and safety on every round.
Days 4–7
The sharpest symptoms usually settle within 7 to 10 days.
Here: As energy returns, therapy begins.
Weeks 2–4
Focus may stay weak, with low mood and cravings for a while.
Here: Therapy and groups help you get ahead of them.
After detox
Under stress, paranoia or a dark mood can come back.
Here: Your discharge plan says who to call, and when.
Typical pattern, not a prediction. Sources: WHO withdrawal guidelines · McGregor 2005, Addiction · NIDA: methamphetamine
Biggest risk: It can look mild, with no shaking or vomiting. But depression and suicidal thoughts are real risks.
How hard it feels, typically
Last use
Within hours: worn out, hungry and down.
Here: Intake, then rest, with staff close by.
Day 1
Exhaustion, slowed movement and vivid, unpleasant dreams.
Here: Regular meals, sleep and check-ins.
Days 2–3
Cravings and a heavy mood. Some people think about hurting themselves.
Here: Safety is part of every round.
Days 4–7
Energy comes back little by little.
Here: Therapy turns to what drove the use.
Weeks 2–4
Cravings rise and fall.
Here: You learn and practice ways to wait one out.
After detox
Months later, cravings and low mood can still surface.
Here: Your plan names your triggers and your supports.
Typical pattern, not a prediction. Sources: WHO withdrawal guidelines · MedlinePlus: cocaine withdrawal · NIDA: cocaine
Taking prescription pills, or more than one substance? Each needs its own plan, so name them all when you call (855) 627-3422.
When we send someone to a hospital first
A six-bed home can safely provide medical detox for most people, but not everyone. If any of these are true at intake, the safest first stop is emergency care or a hospital. We'll tell you straight, and we can help you plan to come here once you're stable.
Every decision is made person by person by our medical team. This list explains how we think about safety. It isn't a diagnosis.
A small team that knows your name
Bret Bellard, MD
Medical Director. Looks at your health and medicines and decides when medicine can help.
Priscilla Bowser, LVN
Our nurse. Does your intake and tracks your vital signs and symptoms.
Behavioral health techs
Each one is a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT). They check on you every 30 minutes in detox.
Staff on site
Someone is awake in the house every hour of every day, with no more than six residents.
Where medical detox fits in recovery
- You are here1
Medical detox
Getting safely through withdrawal, usually 5 to 10 days.
This page - 2
Residential treatment
Live-in therapy, groups and rest, in the same house with the same team.
Residential treatment → - 3
Your next step
Day treatment, outpatient, sober living or a therapist. We don't offer these, so your case manager refers you.
Discharge & aftercare →
Questions worth asking any medical detox program
Whoever you call, these answers tell you a lot. Here are ours.
Is it licensed for detox by the state?
Yes. Our state license, DHCS 191315AP, covers residential detox. The state also approves us for Incidental Medical Services (IMS). That lets medical staff provide detox care on site.
Who checks on me, and how often?
Staff check on you every 30 minutes, day and night, during detox. Our nurse tracks your vital signs, and the medical director oversees your care.
What happens in an emergency?
Staff call 911 right away. For some conditions, we send people to a hospital before detox begins. See the table above.
How many people are there?
No more than six adults at a time, men and women 18 and older.
After detox, what comes next?
Usually residential treatment, under the same roof and with the same team. We don't offer outpatient care, so for that, your case manager refers you before you leave.
Which insurance do you take?
PPO plans only, through their out-of-network benefits. We don't accept HMO plans or Medi-Cal. Admissions verifies your benefits for free and goes over them with you by phone.
Check our license yourself
Look it up
Our detox license, straight from the state
Any medical detox program in California should hold a DHCS license. This card shows ours from the state's list: the program type, the six-bed limit and when it expires.
Open the DHCS record ↗- Facility
- New Beginnings Detox & Recovery
- License number
- 191315AP
- Status
- Licensed
- Program
- Residential detox (RES-DETOX)
- Beds
- 6
- Serves
- Adults, co-ed
- Incidental Medical Services
- Approved
- License expires
- 4/30/2028
Licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services · License 191315AP · Expires 4/30/2028. Our residential treatment is also accredited by The Joint Commission (that accreditation covers residential care, not detox), and we're LegitScript certified.
Using your PPO for medical detox
We work with PPO plans only. We're out of network with every insurance company, so medical detox here runs through your PPO's out-of-network benefits. Our admissions team verifies your benefits for free and goes over them with you by phone.
We don't accept HMO plans or Medi-Cal. On Medi-Cal in Los Angeles County? The county's helpline at 1-844-804-7500 is open 24/7.
Free benefits check
Share your PPO details. We verify your out-of-network benefits and call you to go over them.
Check my coveragePPO plans we've worked with
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Cross Blue Shield PPOs
- BCBS: CA · TX · FL · IL · SC · OK · NC · TN
- Federal Employee Program (FEP)
- UnitedHealthcare
- United Behavioral Health (UBH)
- Optum
- Cigna
- Regence
- Other PPO? Call us
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Cross Blue Shield PPOs
- BCBS: CA · TX · FL · IL · SC · OK · NC · TN
- Federal Employee Program (FEP)
- UnitedHealthcare
- United Behavioral Health (UBH)
- Optum
- Cigna
- Regence
- Other PPO? Call us
PPO plans only, all billed out of network. Every plan is different, so we verify your benefits before admission. Insurer names are trademarks of their owners.
Medical detox questions, answered
No answer matches that yet. Call (855) 627-3422 and ask us directly.
Withdrawal & safety
How long does medical detox take?
Often 5 to 10 days. Alcohol withdrawal usually eases within about a week. Opioid withdrawal often peaks in the first few days. Benzodiazepines take longer, because the dose is lowered step by step. The medical director sets your plan, and it can change as you go.
Is alcohol detox dangerous?
Yes, it can be. If you've been drinking heavily every day, a sudden stop can cause seizures, mostly in the first two days. It can also cause delirium tremens (DTs), a severe confusion that tends to start 2 to 4 days in. Both are emergencies, which is why alcohol detox is safer with staff close by.
Do you use medicine during detox?
When it's needed. The medical director reviews your health and the substances you use, and may prescribe medicine to ease symptoms and help prevent complications. Bring every medicine you take, in its original bottle, so the plan is safe.
Can I detox from fentanyl or other opioids here?
Yes. Opioid and fentanyl withdrawal is part of medical detox here. After detox, your tolerance is lower, so returning to an old dose can cause an overdose. Before you leave, ask your care team about overdose risk and naloxone, and about what comes next.
Your stay
Do I get to keep my phone in detox?
Phones are stored for the whole stay so you can rest. If your job needs you reachable, tell us before you arrive and we'll arrange it. Forgot a number? Staff will let you look it up and call from the house landline.
Can my family visit during detox?
Visits start after detox and are set up ahead of time with staff. Until then, your family can call admissions with questions. We can only share details you've agreed to in writing.
What should I bring to detox?
Bring your photo ID and insurance card. Bring every medicine you take, in its original bottle. Pack about seven days of comfortable clothes, and write key phone numbers on paper. Leave alcohol, drugs, weapons, jewelry and large amounts of cash at home.
Insurance & next steps
Is detox the same as addiction treatment?
No. Detox clears the body and gets you through withdrawal safely. Research summarized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that detox alone seldom changes long-term use. So the usual next step is residential treatment, which happens under the same roof here.
Does insurance cover medical detox?
We work with PPO plans only, through their out-of-network benefits. Our team verifies your benefits for free and goes over them with you by phone. We don't accept HMO plans or Medi-Cal.
What if I've been through detox before and used again?
That's common, and it doesn't mean you failed. Addiction is a long-term health condition, and a return to use is a sign to change the plan. Tell us what happened last time, and this plan will account for it.
Keep reading
Detox steadies the body.Treatment can help the rest heal.
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