[HYTHIAM, INC. LETTERHEAD]

April 1, 2005

BY FAX AND EDGAR

Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attn: Jeffrey Riedler, Assistant Director

Re:	Hythiam, Inc.
	Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1 on Form S-3
	File Number: 333-112353

Dear Mr. Riedler:

     Hythiam, Inc. hereby requests acceleration of the effective date of the above-referenced post-effective amendment No. 2 to Form S-1 on Form S-3 registration statement so that such registration statement shall become effective at 9:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, or as soon thereafter as practicable.

     The registrant acknowledges that should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve the registrant from its full responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; and the registrant may not assert this action as defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

Respectfully yours, HYTHIAM, INC.
By:	/s/ CHUCK TIMPE
	Chuck Timpe
	Chief Financial Officer