Barbiturate Addiction

Expert Barbiturate Addiction Treatment Center

Are you ready to overcome barbiturate addiction and reclaim control of your life?

At Avalon Malibu in Malibu, we specialize in comprehensive, luxury-residential treatment for barbiturate dependency, where evidence-based clinical care meets beachfront tranquility.

Situated on the Pacific Ocean, our Villa House program offers 24/7 medical supervision, holistic modalities, and a personalized path to recovery that restores your mind, body, and spirit.

If you’re seeking a place that treats you with dignity, privacy, and the full support you deserve — call us today at 888-958-7511 and take the first step toward a new chapter.

Why Avalon Malibu Is the Best Choice for Barbiturate Addiction

Our program is specifically designed for barbiturate dependence, addressing the unique risks-and-patterns associated with sedative central nervous-system depressants.
Located in a tranquil, ocean-front Malibu setting, Avalon offers privacy and comfort, so you can devote yourself entirely to recovery, not distractions.
Our treatment blends integrative, evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, EMDR) with holistic supports like nutrition, yoga, massage, and physical fitness.
We offer flexible-length residential care (30-90 days or longer) rather than a rigid timeline, allowing you to stay until you are recovery-ready.
Your safety and wellness are our priority: Avalon is licensed and meets strict regulatory standards to deliver high-quality addiction treatment.
Unlike many generic programs, Avalon treats the whole person, not just the addiction, and helps rebuild self-esteem, life skills, and healthy relationships.

Avalon Malibu The Ocean Sunrise Suite
“When I arrived at Avalon Malibu, I was terrified to admit I had become dependent on barbiturates. I didn’t believe I could stop without falling apart. From the moment I stepped into the program, I felt truly seen, not judged, not labeled, but understood. The medical team made detox safe, and the therapists helped me untangle years of anxiety and exhaustion. The combination of therapy and time by the ocean gave me space to heal in ways I didn’t think were possible. Avalon Malibu helped me rediscover who I am.” – S.A.

Our serene Malibu location and luxurious amenities create an ideal healing environment. Clients can recover in private rooms, enjoy gourmet meals, and access wellness services all within a discreet, supportive setting. With a high staff-to-client ratio, we ensure personalized attention, comfort, and privacy, allowing you to focus entirely on your recovery journey.

By combining top-quality medical care with restorative therapies and a tranquil, luxury environment, Avalon Malibu’s Sub-Acute Detox program provides the foundation for long-term sobriety and a healthier, more fulfilling life.

What are Barbiturates?

Barbiturates are potent and addictive drugs that act as central nervous system depressants. They are derived from a base of barbituric acid and produce a sedative effect. They are available in pill form and in liquid and can be effectively used as anesthesia. Barbiturates are both physically and psychologically addicting and present a problem for substance abusers who seek a downer effect on mood and body.

Called “barbs” on the street, barbiturates are a popular street drug that became well known in the 1960s. Barbiturates and their strong anesthetic effects were prescribed to treat seizures and anxiety. They were also used for insomnia and to help with sleep problems. Today, they have been replaced by other drugs that are considered safer alternatives. Barbiturates can last in the body up to two days.

Here are Some Common Barbiturates:

Phenobarbital
Amobarbital (Amytal)
Tuinal
Pentobarbital (Nembutal)
Secobarbital (Seconal)

How do Barbiturates Affect the Individual?

Barbiturates are addicting and dangerous because it is not easy to determine how much of the drug is too much. Even a small dose can have adverse effects, put an individual in a coma, or cause death. Weight, age and tolerance all contribute to how much a person feels the effect of each dose.

Similar in effect to alcohol or sleeping pills, small doses of barbiturates will reduce inhibitions and make the user feel drowsiness and a buzzed feeling, mixed with a calming sense. A larger dose will impart a heavier experience where the user may slur their speech and become easily confused. They often appear drunk with a stagger in their walk and their breathing slows down. Extreme doses can stop breathing altogether, induce a coma, and even cause death. The difference between a dosage that feels like a buzz and reduces tension and a dosage resulting in death is small.

Alcohol mixed with barbiturates is particularly dangerous because alcohol is also a central nervous system depressant. The effects of barbiturates may be compounded with the use of alcohol.

Recovery from Barbiturates at Avalon Malibu

At the Villa House at Avalon Malibu, we focus on potential, not pathology. When individuals come to our residential treatment facility, they have often been taking various substances such as barbiturates.

Respiratory depression, hypotension, fatigue, irritability, sedation, confusion and unusual excitement are all possible effects and repercussions of using barbiturates. The relaxed high that barbiturates supply can cause addiction and physical dependence that may also develop with repeated use.

Some Side Effects of Barbiturates are:

Light-headedness
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Clumsiness
Depression
Confusion

More Unpleasant Effects of Barbiturates Include:

Bleeding sores on the lips
Wheezing
Chest pain and tightness
Fever
Muscle or joint pain
Bloated eyelids, face, or lips
Skin problems including rash, hives and scaly skin
Sore throat
Mouth sores

What are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Barbiturates?

Barbiturates need specialized care to withdraw from, because the demanding side effects can be dangerous. When the body becomes accustomed to taking barbiturates for any length of time, quitting the drug can become uncomfortable and painful. At the Villa House at Avalon Malibu, we provide non-medically supervised, sub-acute detoxification in an inpatient setting, licensed to treat adults under the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

The Villa House is a retreat where clients come and experience recovery with nutritional support and physician-supervised drug detox. Avalon Malibu provides support for barbiturate withdrawal, and medications are often prescribed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms that coincide with the use of barbiturates.

Some Withdrawal Symptoms Include:

Tremors
Difficulty sleeping
Agitation
Hallucinations
Fever
Fatigue
Seizures

Barbiturates can build up in the human body and as a person ages, the body becomes less able to cleanse itself of barbiturates. As a result of this, people over 65 are at high risk of experiencing dependency and overdose when using barbiturates.

When a woman is pregnant, barbiturates can pass through the mother’s bloodstream to her fetus. After birth, the child may experience withdrawal symptoms and have difficulty breathing. Also, nursing mothers who take barbiturates may transmit the drug to their babies through breast milk.

Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that is collaborative and creative, Avalon offers a refuge that provides a nurturing and empowering therapeutic environment. Clients are encouraged to participate actively in their recovery by setting goals and learning new coping skills. This process supports emotional openness, improves self-esteem, revises cognitive distortions, and helps clients begin the process of changing, healing and recovery.