Admissions answered 24/7 (855) 627-3422 13992 Aztec St, Sylmar, CA 91342 Verify coverageSend a referral

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+
New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryThe basics01 / 12
01What it is

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.

At a glanceMedical detox here
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
New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryRight for you?02 / 12
02A quick check

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.

  1. Do you drink every day, or use opioids, fentanyl or benzos most days?

  2. When you've tried to stop, have you had shakes, sweats, a racing heart or a seizure?

  3. Have you tried to quit on your own and couldn't stay stopped?

  4. 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.

Not a diagnosis. Only a medical professional can decide what care you need.

New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryQuitting alone03 / 12
03The real risks

Why not just quit at home?

Seizures can come without warning.

A sudden stop after heavy daily drinking or benzo use can bring seizures. They're most likely in the first two days.

Delirium tremens is an emergency.

DTs are a sudden, severe confusion. They tend to start 2 to 4 days after the last drink and need care right away.

Cravings win when no one's there.

Many people use again just to make withdrawal stop. With staff around, that urge passes more safely.

Overdose risk rises after.

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.

New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryStep by step04 / 12
04Your stay

How medical detox works here

  1. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Next05By substance
New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryBy substance05 / 12
05Withdrawal timelines

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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

Taking prescription pills, or more than one substance? Each needs its own plan, so name them all when you call (855) 627-3422.

New Beginnings Detox & RecoverySafety first06 / 12
06Hospital first

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.

If at intake there is…What happens
An overdose, slowed breathing, or someone who can't stay awakeCall 911. This is emergency care, not an admission.
Talk of suicide with immediate dangerCall 911 or 988. An urgent psychiatric evaluation comes first.
Severe alcohol withdrawal or a high risk of delirium tremensA medical check first. Some people need hospital-level detox.
A recent seizure or a high risk of seizuresA medical evaluation first, and possibly hospital monitoring.
Chest pain, an unstable heart condition or very abnormal vital signsHospital evaluation and stabilization first.
Hallucinations, psychosis or severe agitationPsychiatric stabilization first if we can't care for it safely here.
A health condition that needs a nurse at the bedside around the clockA hospital or skilled nursing setting is the right fit.
Needs beyond what our license or staffing coversWe look at each person's needs, including disability accommodations. If we can't help, we'll find who can.

Every decision is made person by person by our medical team. This list explains how we think about safety. It isn't a diagnosis.

New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryYour care team07 / 12
07Who watches over you

A small team that knows your name

BB

Bret Bellard, MD

Medical Director. Looks at your health and medicines and decides when medicine can help.

PB

Priscilla Bowser, LVN

Our nurse. Does your intake and tracks your vital signs and symptoms.

5

Behavioral health techs

Each one is a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT). They check on you every 30 minutes in detox.

24/7

Staff on site

Someone is awake in the house every hour of every day, with no more than six residents.

Meet the whole team →

Next08Where detox fits
New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryWhere detox fits08 / 12
08Levels of care

Where medical detox fits in recovery

  1. You are here1

    Medical detox

    Getting safely through withdrawal, usually 5 to 10 days.

    This page
  2. 2

    Residential treatment

    Live-in therapy, groups and rest, in the same house with the same team.

    Residential treatment →
  3. 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 →
New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryComparing programs09 / 12
09Questions to ask

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.

Next10Licensed & verified
New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryLicensed & verified10 / 12
10Check it yourself

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 ↗
DHCS Licensed FacilityState record as of Oct 9, 2026
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.

New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryPaying for detox11 / 12
11Insurance

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 coverage

PPO 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

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.

Next12Questions
New Beginnings Detox & RecoveryQuestions12 / 12
12Answered

Medical detox questions, answered

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.

Detox steadies the body.Treatment can help the rest heal.

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