Too many Louisvillians delay addiction treatment because they aren’t sure where to start. Others assume every rehab center runs its own detox wing, then panic when they realize they still need a safe place to manage withdrawal before therapy can begin. The information below clears up those first-step questions and points you toward trusted medical resources.
Acute withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines can trigger seizures, heart problems, or dangerous blood-pressure swings, so choosing the right medical setting is critical. This page explains how drug and alcohol detox in Louisville works, lists local services for drug or alcohol detox for Louisville residents, and outlines what happens after detox ends.
Louisville Addiction Center does not run its own inpatient detox unit; however, the team refers clients to licensed facilities, then offers medication-assisted treatment (MAT), Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, and standard Outpatient care as soon as the acute withdrawal phase is complete, ensuring a seamless hand-off from medical stabilization to long-term recovery support.
Detox is the medically managed clearing of drugs or alcohol from your body; rehab is the longer-term counseling and skill-building that follows. During detox, the brain and nervous system rebound after months or years of chemical suppression, and that rebound can be dangerous.
Alcohol withdrawal may bring on delirium tremens with confusion, racing heart, and seizures that require ICU-level care.
Opioid detox can cause relentless vomiting, dehydration, and spikes in blood pressure, while sudden benzodiazepine stoppage is notorious for grand-mal seizures and life-threatening blood-pressure surges.
Even stimulants like cocaine or meth can trigger severe depression, aggression, or psychosis in early withdrawal.
Because these risks vary by substance and health history, drug and alcohol detox should happen under medical supervision, not alone at home.
Certain red-flag symptoms mean you need the safety of a hospital or licensed detox unit rather than a couch at home.
If you have a history of delirium tremens, seizures, hallucinations, or fever over 101 °F during past withdrawals, seek medical help before you quit again.
Other warning signs include uncontrollable shaking, severe vomiting or diarrhea, chest pain, crushing depression with suicidal thoughts, or confusion so intense you cannot follow a conversation.
Pregnant clients, people over age sixty, and anyone mixing multiple substances also fall into the must-detox-with-doctors category. When in doubt, call 911 or head to the nearest emergency department; waiting it out can turn a survivable withdrawal into a medical crisis.
Louisville offers several medically staffed options for acute withdrawal. University of Louisville Hospital operates detox beds within its Behavioral Health Services unit.
At the same time, Norton Audubon Hospital and UofL Health – Mary & Elizabeth Hospital have medical floors equipped to manage alcohol and benzodiazepine seizures.
The Brook Hospital – Dupont and The Brook Hospital – KMI provide short-term, licensed residential detox, and The Healing Place runs a non-profit social-model facility for people who qualify. If beds are full, call the statewide Kentucky HELP line (833-859-4357) or the national SAMHSA hotline (800-662-HELP) for real-time openings.
Because availability changes daily, always phone ahead to confirm space, insurance acceptance, and admission criteria. In an emergency, such as with severe tremors, hallucinations, or uncontrolled blood pressure, go directly to the closest emergency room—medical stabilization comes first, and treatment planning follows.
This resource-first approach ensures anyone searching for drug and alcohol detox in Louisville can reach safe, professional care without delay.
The first hours are all about safety. A nurse collects vitals, draws labs, and records your substance-use history while a physician screens for medical red flags such as high blood pressure or seizure risk.
Based on those findings, you receive a tailored withdrawal plan—think IV fluids for dehydration, benzodiazepines for alcohol tremors, or anti-nausea and blood-pressure meds for opioids. Nursing staff check vital signs every two to four hours, adjust medications, and watch for complications around the clock.
Short counseling sessions introduce coping skills and prepare you for the next phase of care.
Most alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawals require five to seven days of monitoring. In comparison, opioid or stimulant detox can be as brief as three days or as long as ten, depending on dose history and overall health.
Detox stops the drugs, but MAT keeps the brain stable long enough for therapy to work.
Buprenorphine partially activates opioid receptors, taking the edge off cravings without producing a full high. Naltrexone blocks those same receptors entirely, so relapse triggers no reward and urges fade over time.
For alcohol, acamprosate helps balance glutamate and GABA levels, easing anxiety and insomnia that often drive people back to drinking.
Clinicians may also prescribe anti-craving or mood-stabilizing medications such as gabapentin or certain SSRIs to address lingering withdrawal symptoms.
MAT is always paired with counseling, random drug screens, and medical follow-ups, creating a bridge between the short, medically intensive detox window and the longer behavioral work of rehab.
Numerous studies show MAT cuts overdose risk by more than half and doubles one-year sobriety rates, underscoring its value as a cornerstone of modern recovery care.
Once a hospital or residential unit finishes your Drug Alcohol Detox in Louisville, Louisville Addiction Center can accept a same-day or next-day admission, so momentum is never lost.
Physicians continue MAT maintenance—buprenorphine, naltrexone, or other evidence-based medications—while the clinical team guides you through a stepped continuum: Partial Hospitalization for full-day therapy and medical check-ins, Intensive Outpatient for three-hour skill-building blocks that fit around work or school, and standard Outpatient for weekly relapse-prevention tune-ups.
Therapy modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and family counseling, all grounded in measurable treatment goals. Holistic supports like yoga sessions to calm the nervous system, mindfulness groups to sharpen focus, and nutrition coaching to rebuild physical health round out the program.
Because every service operates on the same campus, you never have to juggle multiple providers or retell your story; the hand-off from detox to ongoing care is seamless, coordinated, and centered on long-term recovery.
Detox is the medically managed clearing of drugs or alcohol from your body; rehab is the longer-term counseling and skill-building that follows. During detox, the brain and nervous system rebound after months or years of chemical suppression, and that rebound can be dangerous.
When cravings keep overruling your best intentions, sheer willpower rarely carries you to the finish line. That’s why drug treatment in Louisville at Louisville Addiction Center pairs accredited clinicians with evidence-based therapies, turning the turmoil of active use into a clear, step-by-step path to lasting sobriety.
Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) is the most common level of care that we have to offer. Our PHP program for substance abuse treatment in Louisville, KY offers intensive care as well as a flexible schedule that will allow our clients to remain plugged into normal life. During our PHP in Louisville, Kentucky, our clients are in our program for 30 days.
Following PHP, clients might need to continue treatment while getting back to everyday life. Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) offers treatment for several hours throughout the week, yet with more flexibility than PHP. That way, clients can begin to use the skills they learn while tending to other obligations, like family, school, or work.
The outpatient program during Louisville rehab is the least restrictive program we offer. Often, clients meet with a therapist or group for about one hour per week. Most clients in our outpatient program have the skills needed to stay healthy outside of treatment. Yet, they still need to refine their recovery skills in the real world with professional support and guidance.
At Louisville Addiction Center, we offer rehab for veterans in Louisville, Kentucky. As a veterans addiction treatment center, we provide TRICARE addiction treatment for veterans. Veterans have unique needs when it comes to substance abuse and mental health disorders. We understand that and offer specialized treatment.
Call 502-586-2433 or Verify Insurance to lock in coverage details. Louisville Addiction Center welcomes same-day or next-day admissions after detox, providing MAT maintenance, therapy, and holistic supports the moment you’re medically cleared—no waiting, just forward progress.
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Addiction and co-occurring disorders don’t have to control your life. Louisville Addiction Center is waiting with open arms to give you the tools necessary for lasting change. Reach out to us today to learn more.
Get Family Support Now
We understand addiction affects the whole family. Our comprehensive family program helps rebuild trust and restore relationships.
Weekly Family Therapy Sessions
Educational Workshops
Support Groups
Communication Skills Training
Hear directly from those who have walked the path to recovery. Our patients’ stories highlight the compassionate care, effective programs, and life-changing support they’ve experienced. Let their journeys inspire you as you take your first steps toward healing.
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