When couples search for couples detox, it’s usually not because everything is falling apart all at once. More often, it’s because things have quietly become unmanageable together.
Substance use has started to shape daily life, communication feels strained, and attempts to quit at home haven’t worked. One partner may be ready for help before the other—or both may want to stop, but fear what withdrawal, separation, or disruption might bring.
Couples detox offers a way to begin recovery together, with medical supervision and emotional support—without sacrificing individual safety or clinical care. At Crosspointe Recovery, couples can enter detox at the same center while each partner receives personalized, medically appropriate treatment. Located in Sherman Oaks in the Los Angeles area, Crosspointe provides a structured, partner-inclusive approach to detox that supports both stabilization and the relationship itself.
What Is Couples Detox?
Couples detox means that both partners enter treatment at the same facility to safely withdraw from drugs or alcohol under medical supervision. Importantly, it does not mean that partners share the same detox protocol.
Each person’s detox plan is based on their individual substance use history, medical needs, and mental health considerations. At the same time, couples are supported as partners—able to begin recovery together while maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries.
This model recognizes a simple truth: when both partners are struggling, recovery often works best when neither is left behind.
Why Medical Detox Matters—Especially for Couples
Detoxing from substances without medical supervision can be dangerous, and in some cases life-threatening.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) strongly advises medically supervised detox for substances such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids, where withdrawal symptoms can include seizures, heart complications, and severe psychological distress.
For couples, attempting to detox at home can also create emotional strain. Withdrawal often intensifies anxiety, irritability, and fear of abandonment—dynamics that can be especially challenging in a relationship where both partners are struggling.
Couples detox provides medical safety and relational stability at a critical moment.
Does Couples Detox Improve Outcomes?
Research suggests that partner involvement can positively influence early recovery—when done appropriately.
Studies published through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicate that substance use treatment involving a significant other can lead to better engagement and longer-lasting outcomes compared to individual-only approaches. Early stabilization together can reduce dropout risk and improve follow-through into ongoing care.For couples, detox is often the first step in rebuilding trust, accountability, and shared motivation—before deeper therapeutic work begins.
How Couples Detox Works at Crosspointe Recovery
At Crosspointe Recovery, couples detox is medically supervised, individualized, and relationship-aware.
Both partners are admitted to the same center and assessed separately by clinical and medical professionals. Detox protocols are tailored to each individual’s needs, whether that involves alcohol, opioids, prescription medications, or other substances.
While medical care remains individualized, couples are supported in navigating this transition together. Staff understand that withdrawal doesn’t just affect the body—it affects communication, emotional regulation, and trust.
Detox at Crosspointe is designed not as an isolated event, but as the foundation for what comes next.
Levels of Care After Couples Detox
Detox alone is rarely enough to support lasting recovery. According to SAMHSA, detox should almost always be followed by structured treatment to address the psychological and behavioral aspects of addiction.
After couples detox, Crosspointe Recovery offers a full continuum of care so partners can continue treatment together—or on parallel tracks—as clinically appropriate.
Some couples transition directly into residential rehab, where 24/7 support helps stabilize early recovery and address co-occurring mental health conditions.
Others step into Partial Hospitalization (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), including Evening IOP for working adults. This flexibility allows couples to stay engaged in treatment while maintaining responsibilities at home, work, or school.
This step-down approach reflects best practices supported by academic and clinical research, including guidance summarized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A Co-Ed, Inclusive Environment for Couples Detox
Crosspointe Recovery operates within a co-ed treatment environment that reflects real-world dynamics while maintaining strong clinical structure.
For couples, this means beginning recovery in a setting that allows them to practice coping, communication, and emotional regulation in ways that feel realistic—not artificially separated from everyday life.
Academic research from institutions such as UCLA Health highlights the importance of continuity and social context in early recovery, particularly during transitions like detox.
Pet-Friendly Couples Detox: Lowering the Barrier to Entry
For many couples, pets are part of their emotional support system. Leaving them behind can delay or prevent seeking help.
Crosspointe Recovery offers pet-friendly treatment options, allowing couples to bring companion animals when appropriate. Research from Tufts University shows that companion animals can reduce stress, anxiety, and emotional distress during major life changes—including medical and behavioral health treatment.
Admissions can explain current guidelines and help couples plan logistics so detox feels manageable, not overwhelming.
Who Should Consider Couples Detox?
Couples detox may be appropriate when:
- Both partners are actively using substances
- Withdrawal symptoms are expected or already present
- Attempts to quit at home have failed
- Substance use is affecting the relationship and daily functioning
An admissions assessment can help determine whether couples detox—or individual detox with coordinated care—is the safest starting point.
Couples Detox: A Safer First Step, Taken Together
Detox is not the end of recovery—but it is often the most critical beginning.
For couples struggling with substance use, starting detox together—safely, medically, and with professional support—can create a stronger foundation for everything that follows.
At Crosspointe Recovery, couples don’t have to choose between getting help and staying connected. They can begin recovery together, with care designed for real life and lasting change.
