Ethical, Compassionate, And Intentional Care
About 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center | Granada Hills, CA
Joint Commission Accredited. LegitScript Certified. Built on Ethics, Not Shortcuts. Serving Granada Hills, the San Fernando Valley, and Greater Los Angeles.
Why We Started 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center
The founder of 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center didn’t enter this industry to build a business. He entered it because addiction had already taken something from him — friends, people he cared about, people he watched slip away while the systems that were supposed to help them fell short.
He saw it firsthand: treatment centers that cut corners, programs that checked boxes without truly connecting with clients, facilities where medication distribution happened in five-minute windows and process groups replaced real human conversation. He saw what it looked like when the industry prioritized volume over people.
So he built something different.
1st Choice Detox Treatment Center was founded on a single commitment: that every person who walks through our doors would be treated the way someone we love deserves to be treated. Not as a case. Not as a bed. As a person — with a story, a family, and a future worth fighting for.
That personal experience lives in everything we do. It’s why our team goes the extra mile. It’s why we pick up the phone at 2 a.m. It’s why we don’t believe real recovery happens in five-minute check-ins. And it’s why, when we say we care, we mean it.
We built this place to be what we wish had existed for the people we lost to addiction.
Our Mission
To rebuild lives, sustain families, and make long-term recovery accessible to everyone in the San Fernando Valley and Greater Los Angeles — through ethical, evidence-based care that never cuts corners.
Who We're Here For
If You're the One Who Needs Help
You may have tried to stop before. You may have tried everything. The withdrawals, the cravings, the cycle that seems impossible to break — we understand, and we don’t judge any of it.
What we know is this: addiction is not a character flaw. It is a medical condition, and it responds to real, structured treatment. At 1st Choice Detox, you will not be talked at, rushed through, or made to feel like a number. You will be listened to, supported, and treated with the dignity you deserve from the moment you call us.
Taking the first step is the hardest part. We will handle everything else.
If Someone You Love Is Struggling
Watching addiction affect someone you care about is one of the most painful experiences a family can go through. You may feel helpless, confused, or unsure whether reaching out will even make a difference.
It will. One phone call to our admissions team can change everything. We’ll walk you through your options honestly, help you understand what to expect, explain how insurance works, and guide you through getting your loved one into care as quickly and smoothly as possible.
You are not in this alone, and neither are they.
What Makes 1st Choice Detox Different
Joint Commission Accredited
Accreditation by The Joint Commission (HCO ID: 715830) is the gold standard in healthcare. It means our clinical practices, safety protocols, and facility meet the highest national standards.
Our Credentials & Licenses
We believe transparency is non-negotiable. Every credential below is verifiable through the issuing organization's official website.
JCAHO Accredited
The Joint Commission National Quality Approval HCO ID: 715830 Effective: 06/01/2026 | Expires: 05/31/2028 Verify on The Joint Commission website →
Licensed by California DHCS
State License Number: 191309BP Issued by the California Department of Health Care Services View DHCS Licensed Facility Map →
LegitScript Certified
This website and our marketing practices have passed LegitScript's rigorous compliance review for addiction treatment providers — covering ethics, clinical accuracy, and advertising standards. Verify our LegitScript certification →
What We Treat
We specialize in medically supervised detox and stabilization for adults dealing with substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. Every treatment plan is individualized to you.
The People Behind Your Recovery
Our multidisciplinary team brings over 50 years of combined experience in addiction medicine, nursing, therapy, and behavioral health. Every member of our staff was chosen because they share our commitment to going the extra mile for every client.
Eric Chaghouri
Michelle Jones
Syuzanna Balasany
Sabrina Torosyan
Lindsey Alexis Vidal
Amber Jones
Jason Kenneth Barbosa
Saul Urtiz
Christian Red-Elk
Donald Schlachter
Albert Tsatruyan
Kiarash Zanganeh
Danielle Williams
Nicole Aguirre
Most Insurance Accepted — Verification Is Free & Confidential
We work with most major PPO insurance plans and can verify your benefits in minutes — at no cost to you. Our admissions team handles the paperwork so you can focus on what matters: getting help.
What Our Clients Say
Hear more from clients who found success
We Accept PPO Insurance With Out-of-Network Benefits
Cost should never be the reason someone waits to get help. Many PPO insurance plans include out-of-network behavioral health benefits, and those benefits can cover a meaningful portion of treatment at 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center.
We work with PPO plans including Aetna, BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna as an out-of-network provider. Our team verifies your specific benefits for free, so you know your real costs before you commit to anything.
You Don't Have to Do This Alone
Whether you’re reaching out for yourself or for someone you love, the most important step is the first one. Our admissions team is available around the clock — no judgment, no pressure, just honest answers and immediate support.
Calls are 100% confidential. Insurance verification is free. Help is available right now.
If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual treatment outcomes may vary.
Your questions, answered.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Is 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center accredited and licensed?
Yes. 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center is accredited by The Joint Commission (HCO ID 715830), the independent body that sets national standards for behavioral health care quality and patient safety. Accreditation requires an on-site survey and continuous compliance rather than a one-time application. We are also licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services under license 191309BP, which includes approval to provide incidental medical services on site. That approval is what allows our physician and nursing staff to manage withdrawal medically here rather than referring clients elsewhere for medical oversight. We are LegitScript certified as well, which requires ongoing monitoring of our licensing, clinical practices, and marketing.
Who provides care at 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center?
Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team. A physician oversees medical detox and medication management, and a registered nurse provides clinical monitoring throughout withdrawal. Licensed and associate marriage and family therapists deliver individual, group, and family therapy. A case manager coordinates discharge planning and continuing care, licensed clinical support assists with daily clinical operations, and behavioral health technicians provide 24-hour on-site supervision. With six beds and a team of this size, our staff-to-client ratio is substantially higher than what you will find at a large-census facility.
What makes 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center different?
Three things. First, scale: we operate six beds by design, so our clinical team knows every client individually rather than managing a caseload. Second, transparency: we publish our accreditation, license number, and full clinical team openly, because a facility unwilling to show you its credentials is telling you something. Third, flexibility: many of our clients have jobs, families, and responsibilities they cannot simply walk away from, so we accommodate laptop access, scheduled visits, and communication needs wherever it is clinically appropriate. This facility was built in response to what we saw elsewhere in the industry, where volume too often took priority over the person in front of you.
When did 1st Choice Detox Treatment Center open?
We opened in June 2024 in Granada Hills, California. We serve adults 18 and older throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles, including Northridge, Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, and Santa Clarita, and we accept clients traveling from out of state. Our Joint Commission accreditation is current through May 2028.
Do you accept insurance?
We work with most PPO insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna. We do not accept HMO plans, Medicaid, or Medi-Cal. Benefits verification is free and confidential: our admissions team contacts your insurer directly, confirms which levels of care are covered, and explains your deductible, coinsurance, and any expected out-of-pocket cost before you commit to admission. We also accept private pay and will quote that clearly by phone. Call (844) 944-3139 and we can usually complete verification the same day.