If you are struggling with substance abuse, searching for a treatment program to get sober can feel really stressful. There are tons of different options available, including detox and rehab or outpatient programs, which can quickly become overwhelming.
When you are already trying to manage your substance abuse symptoms, figuring out what addiction treatments are available or why they’re important can feel like too much. That’s why understanding the difference between detox and rehab for drugs and alcohol can help you see how each contributes to your success in sobriety.
According to NPR, every 3 out of 4 people end up recovering from addiction, which is a whopping 75%. This proves how successful treatment can be when going through a program that gives you the appropriate tools to combat substance abuse [1].
At Clear Behavioral Health, we incorporate a comprehensive approach to treatment by treating the entire mind and body. To ensure proper success with inpatient rehabilitation, detoxing from drugs and alcohol is the first step. Detox is when the substances you take are no longer used, and your body removes them from your system. This can lead to experiencing withdrawal, which is best managed under professional supervision. Once detox is complete, you can move to rehab where you’ll be able to focus on your sobriety journey.
Related: Substance Abuse Recovery: What You Need to Know
We are the trusted professionals for detox and rehab in the Los Angeles, California area. Call us today to get started.
What Comes First, Detox or Rehab?
Whether detox or rehab comes first is wholly dependent on your sobriety journey and the substance being abused. If you are considered for detox, this stage of drug addiction treatment can last anywhere from a few days to a week or more. Once you are stable, you can then transition into a rehab center. Rehab can last anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months.
Once you transition into rehab, you will have more time and energy to engage in various therapeutic techniques. You learn life and coping skills that can be used immediately while building your support network.
Understanding Alcohol and Drug Detox
Detoxification is an important part of your sobriety journey. Once the body is cleared of substances, you have a clean slate to reconnect your body and mind. The process can take anywhere from 5 to 10 days or more to safely detox under medical supervision [2]. This tends to be the first step before rehab.
When going through detox, you will be assessed by one of our doctors who can prescribe medication that can help with any withdrawal symptoms, and then withdrawal symptom management as they fluctuate. At Clear Behavioral Health, you will have 24/7 medical care and monitoring, with medication management to ease withdrawal symptoms.
Related: Alcohol Detox and Withdrawal: Symptoms and Treatments
Understanding Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Residential drug and alcohol rehab is an inpatient substance abuse treatment program that treats multiple layers, like the psychological, behavioral, and social aspects of your addiction. You will have 24/7 support from staff, participate in effective treatment methods such as addiction therapy and medication management, and receive the time and space you need to recover.
To best support you throughout your recovery, you will step down in the intensity of the levels of care. After successfully detoxing, you’ll move into an inpatient rehab program, after which you move into a PHP (partial hospitalization program), eventually ending in an IOP (intensive outpatient program), with continued aftercare and alumni services once you’ve completed IOP. This continuum of care allows you to receive support and community at every stage of your recovery and provides opportunities to be accountable long after treatment.
Related: What’s it Like Day-to-Day in Addiction Treatment Rehab?
Is Detox the Same Thing as Rehab?
Detox and rehab are both forms of inpatient drug and alcohol treatment, yet they are not the same thing. They are commonly used addiction treatments done in tandem for the best long-term recovery success.
Detox addresses physical symptoms and dependence by removing the substances from your system. This is necessary to overcome your withdrawal symptoms and work on recovery from a clean state.
Detox is an important part of the recovery process and allows you to take the next steps in completing rehab. This means greater success for your recovery since rehab will help you tackle the psychological aspect of your addiction.
How Drug and Alcohol Detox and Rehab Programs Work Together
Going through the detox process without any follow-up is dangerous since it raises your risk of relapse [3]. Rehab builds on the foundation created in detox, which is why you’ll have a better transition to your recovery if you follow up detox with rehab.
Making the Transition: From Detox to Rehab
When making the transition from detox to rehab, it’s important to go through an assessment that goes over your history. Once the assessment is done, the medical staff will know how to best support you with medication management and anything else. As you detox, there will be physical stabilization, and once you’re stabilized, you can be transferred over to the rehab center to continue your treatment process.
Choosing the Right Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Path
When trying to choose which type of treatment program to participate in, it ends up being at the discretion of the assessment team. They will thoroughly go over the substances used, the severity of your reliance on the substance, and your overall substance abuse history.
Once this is determined, they’ll work with you to create the perfect personalized treatment plan. Financially, most insurance policies will cover these types of treatment programs. Detox and rehab, followed by outpatient rehab, is the combination needed for the most successful recovery from drug and alcohol abuse.
Call our experts today to learn more about detox and rehab for drugs and alcohol in the Los Angeles, California area.
Clear Behavioral Health’s Drug and Alcohol Detox and Rehab Programs in Los Angeles, California
When you have proper support, recovery is possible. At Clear Behavioral Health, our comprehensive detox and rehab treatment plans offer individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and holistic modalities. With all of these layered into your treatment plan, it provides a unique program that focuses on reconnecting your body and mind.
Related: What is Individual and Group Therapy Like in Addiction Treatment Rehab?
Features of Our Substance Use Disorder Programs
At Clear Behavioral Health, our substance use disorder programs include multiple therapeutic modalities like individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, learning life skills, and holistic modalities.
- Therapeutic focus: More often than not, drug addiction occurs alongside mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, referred to as a dual diagnosis. Treating both conditions in tandem through evidence-based therapies is vital when it comes to substance abuse recovery.
- Relapse prevention: Learning different healthy coping mechanisms, how to manage your stress, and how to implement a routine are all part of relapse prevention.
- Recovery community and peer support: Peer support and mentorship contribute greatly to recovery. Fostering community within the treatment programs through group therapy and building a strong support network boosts your long-term recovery outcomes.
If you are struggling with choosing a substance abuse program, call us today to learn more about our treatment options. Our full continuum of care, with addiction treatment programs throughout the Los Angeles, CA, area, features drug detox and alcohol detox in Redondo Beach, drug and alcohol rehab in Gardena, and outpatient addiction treatment programs, including our newest location in Santa Clarita, CA.
Don’t wait to get the help you need, we’ll walk you through every step so you can take back control of your life and begin a new path of sobriety.
References:
- Mann, B. (2022, January 15). There is life after addiction. Most people recover. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/15/1071282194/addiction-substance-recovery-treatment
- Alcohol withdrawal. (2025, April 24). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/alcohol-withdrawal
- Treatment and Recovery | National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2025, January 8). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
