Levels of care
Detox Programs
Drug & Alcohol Detox Programs
Detox is the first and often the most intimidating step in recovery. At Double Peak Recovery, our medically supervised detox program helps you get through withdrawal safely and as comfortably as possible, with 24/7 nursing care, physician-directed medication support, and a licensed clinical team by your side. We are licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS License #370261AP) and serve clients throughout San Diego County.
If you or a loved one needs help now, call (760) 579-1109. Our admissions team answers 24 hours a day, and most PPO insurance plans are accepted.
What to Expect During Medical Detox
Fear of withdrawal keeps many people from getting help. Knowing what actually happens — hour by hour and day by day — makes the process far less frightening. Here is what detox at Double Peak Recovery looks like:
- 01
Assessment & Intake (Day 1)
When you arrive, our medical team completes a full health assessment: substance use history, vital signs, co-occurring mental health conditions, and any medical concerns. From this, our physician builds a personalized detox protocol — including which comfort and stabilization medications you may need. Intake typically takes one to two hours, and you are welcomed into a private, home-like environment, not a hospital ward.
- 02
Stabilization (Days 1–7)
This is the core of detox. Nurses monitor your vitals and symptoms around the clock, and medications are adjusted daily to keep withdrawal symptoms managed. You will rest, hydrate, eat nourishing meals, and begin sleeping again. As symptoms ease, you will start meeting with our clinical team to prepare for the next phase of treatment.
- 03
Transition to Treatment (Days 5–10)
Detox clears substances from your body, but it does not treat addiction itself. Before you complete detox, our team builds your next-step plan — for most clients, that means moving directly into our residential treatment program on the same campus, so there is no gap in care and no risky “in-between” period.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment combines FDA-approved medications with counseling and behavioral therapy. Used correctly, MAT dramatically reduces withdrawal severity, cravings, and the risk of relapse and overdose. At Double Peak Recovery, MAT is physician-directed and tailored to each client. Depending on your situation, your protocol may include:
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone®): used for opioid withdrawal and maintenance — it relieves withdrawal symptoms and cravings without the high, and is started once you are in early withdrawal to avoid precipitated symptoms.
- Naltrexone: an opioid blocker available as a monthly injection (Vivitrol®) or daily tablet, used after detox is complete to reduce cravings for both opioids and alcohol.
- Tapering protocols: a medically managed, gradually decreasing dose — the safe standard of care for alcohol and benzodiazepine detox to prevent seizures and severe withdrawal.
- Comfort medications: non-addictive medications for specific symptoms — sleep, nausea, anxiety, blood pressure — so you are not simply left to “white-knuckle” through withdrawal.
MAT is not “replacing one drug with another.” It is evidence-based medicine, endorsed by SAMHSA and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, and our team will talk through the benefits, duration, and tapering plan for any medication before you start it.
How Admissions Works
We keep admissions simple — most clients are admitted the same day or next day. Here is the process from first call to arrival:
- Call or reach out online. Speak confidentially with an admissions coordinator at (760) 579-1109, any time of day. There is no obligation — we will answer your questions and explain your options.
- Free, confidential assessment. A brief phone conversation about substance use history, health, and goals lets our clinical team confirm that detox is the right level of care for you.
- Insurance verification. Send us your insurance details — or use our online verify-insurance form — and we will confirm your benefits, usually within an hour, and explain any costs before you commit to anything.
- Plan your arrival. We will schedule your admission (same-day when needed), tell you exactly what to bring, and help arrange logistics — including guidance for family members.
Arrive and begin care. Your medical assessment starts on arrival, and your comfort protocol begins the same day. From this point forward, you are never navigating withdrawal alone.
Withdrawal Timelines by Substance
Every detox is different — timelines vary with how long you have used, how much, your overall health, and whether multiple substances are involved. The ranges below reflect typical acute withdrawal patterns our medical team plans for:
Important: alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can become medically dangerous — including seizures and delirium tremens (DTs) — and should never be attempted alone at home. Fentanyl withdrawal, while rarely life-threatening, is intensely uncomfortable and carries a high relapse and overdose risk without medical support. This is exactly what supervised detox is designed to prevent.
Some people also experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) — sleep disturbance, low mood, anxiety, and cravings that come and go for weeks or months. Our residential program and aftercare planning are built to support you through this phase, not just the first week.
| Substance | Symptoms Begin | Symptoms Peak | Acute Phase Resolves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | 6–12 hours after last drink | 24–72 hours | 5–7 days |
| Heroin & short-acting opioids | 8–24 hours | 36–72 hours | 4–10 days |
| Fentanyl | 8–36 hours (can be delayed) | 36–96 hours | 7–14 days, sometimes longer |
| Meth & cocaine | Within 24 hours (“crash”) | 24–72 hours | 3–10 days; cravings persist longer |
| Benzodiazepines | 1–4 days | Week 1–2 | 2–4+ weeks (gradual taper required) |
Alcohol
- Symptoms Begin
- 6–12 hours after last drink
- Symptoms Peak
- 24–72 hours
- Acute Phase Resolves
- 5–7 days
Heroin & short-acting opioids
- Symptoms Begin
- 8–24 hours
- Symptoms Peak
- 36–72 hours
- Acute Phase Resolves
- 4–10 days
Fentanyl
- Symptoms Begin
- 8–36 hours (can be delayed)
- Symptoms Peak
- 36–96 hours
- Acute Phase Resolves
- 7–14 days, sometimes longer
Meth & cocaine
- Symptoms Begin
- Within 24 hours (“crash”)
- Symptoms Peak
- 24–72 hours
- Acute Phase Resolves
- 3–10 days; cravings persist longer
Benzodiazepines
- Symptoms Begin
- 1–4 days
- Symptoms Peak
- Week 1–2
- Acute Phase Resolves
- 2–4+ weeks (gradual taper required)
Insurance Accepted
We accept most major insurance providers. Private-pay and financing plans are also available. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept Medicaid and Medi-Cal at this time. Verify your insurance benefits.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does detox take?
Most clients complete acute detox in 5 to 10 days. Alcohol and opioid detox typically run about a week; benzodiazepine detox takes longer because it requires a gradual taper. Your exact length of stay depends on the substance, how long you have used, and your overall health — our medical team will give you a realistic estimate at intake.
Is detox painful?
Unmanaged withdrawal can be very uncomfortable — that is why we do not leave it unmanaged. With 24/7 monitoring and physician-directed medications, most clients describe detox at Double Peak as far more comfortable than they feared. You will rest in a private, home-like setting with nursing staff available at all times.
Can I detox at home on my own?
For alcohol and benzodiazepines, at-home detox can be genuinely dangerous — withdrawal seizures and delirium tremens can be life-threatening without medical care. For opioids, home detox is rarely dangerous but very rarely succeeds, and the loss of tolerance it causes sharply raises overdose risk if relapse occurs. Medically supervised detox is safer and far more likely to lead to lasting recovery.
Does insurance cover detox?
In most cases, yes. Detox is a medically necessary service, and we work with most major PPO plans including Anthem, Blue Cross, Cigna, Aetna, and United Healthcare. Our team will verify your benefits for free and explain exactly what is covered before you admit.
What happens after detox?
Detox alone is not treatment — completing detox without follow-up care carries a very high relapse risk. Most of our clients transition directly into our residential treatment program, where the real work of recovery happens: individual and group therapy, dual diagnosis care for co-occurring mental health conditions, family involvement, and a structured aftercare plan.
Can my family contact me during detox?
Yes. The first days are focused on rest and stabilization, but we facilitate family contact as you are ready, and family education is part of our program — recovery is stronger when the people around you understand it.