Drug And Alcohol Addiction In Los Angeles, California
California has one of the highest concentrations of addiction treatment centers in the nation, many of which are located in Los Angeles or its surrounding neighborhoods. Given the city’s long history of substance abuse, it’s not surprising how many drug rehabs are located in LA.
Los Angeles may be the poster child for luxury rehabs, but the city is also home to holistic centers and affordable treatment options.
Every year, tens of thousands of people get treatment for drug and/or alcohol addiction in Los Angeles. Historically, nearly a quarter of those admissions have been for Meth addiction, followed by Heroin addiction (about 20%) and alcohol addiction (about 19%).
Whether you’re a Los Angeles local or an out-of-towner, the City of Angels has plenty of addiction treatment programs to fit everyone’s needs.
Neighborhoods Of Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a sprawling city made up of numerous neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs. While some of these areas are not technically part of the city of Los Angeles, they have quality rehabs that are merely a short drive from downtown.
Should I Travel Outside Of LA For Treatment?
Although there are plenty of great rehabs in Los Angeles, traveling to another city for treatment is. Some people may simply need to get away from the people, places, and things that trigger their desire to use. Others may find the stress of living in a fast-paced environment like LA has contributed to their addiction. Finding a rehab in a slower, more relaxed location may help them heal more efficiently.
Break free from addiction.
You have options. Talk about them with a treatment provider today.
Drug Abuse In Los Angeles
As is true of many major cities in the US, substance abuse has been a common struggle in Los Angeles for decades. The city’s proximity to the Mexican border may be in part to blame, as it makes LA a prime location for Central and South American drug traffickers to transport and distribute illicit substances.
The Crack Cocaine epidemic that swept the nation in the 1980s destroyed countless lives and families across the US. The epidemic is believed to have originated in South Central Los Angeles, where imported Colombian Cocaine was converted to Crack and sold in Black communities. Evidence of the drug’s destruction is still apparent in those communities today.
In low-income neighborhoods of South Los Angeles, the enduring lure of the cheap, potent drug ‘has changed the architecture of the community,’ in the words of Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger. The crack epidemic rolled through some lives like a wildfire and burned slowly through others over years. Crack steered fathers to jail, lured mothers into the streets and left children to raise themselves in neighborhoods bristling with despair and anger. Their families and communities were left scorched and in many cases, still smoldering.
Crack Cocaine is not the only illicit drug that plagues the City of Angels. According to a report by the National Drug Intelligence Center, Los Angeles’ high intensity drug trafficking area (HIDTA) is increasingly being used to transit and sell Methamphetamine from Mexico. The report also noted there’s been an increase in local production of Marijuana.
The increase in the availability of both Meth and Marijuana correlate to the recent increase in addiction treatment admissions for both drugs. Heroin abuse is also a problem in LA, with thousands of treatment admissions for the drug annually.
Addiction And Drug Abuse Statistics In LA
1,652
deaths
There were at least 1,652 drug-related fatalities in Los Angeles County in 2019.
63
percent
There was a 63% rise in overdose deaths between the start of 2020 and March of 2021.
2,100
people
Over 2,100 people passed away in that 15-month time period.
Addiction Treatment Services In LA
The Los Angeles County Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) program is responsible for administering alcohol and drug programs in the county.
The SAPC program offers a variety of prevention, treatment and recovery services, and is LA’s hub for local addiction information.
The Antelope Valley Rehabilitation Centers (AVRCs) is a division of the SAPC program. The AVRCs offer cost-effective inpatient and outpatient treatment services, as well as mental and physical health assessments, treatment and referrals. The centers also offer the following:
- Medication-assisted detox
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- 12-step meetings
- Trauma-informed treatment
- Post-treatment planning (preventing relapse, finding sober housing, getting a job, etc.)
The AVRCs use a sliding scale based on each patient’s financial situation to determine the cost of treatment. The centers also accept Medicaid and Medicare.
Find Help In Your City Now
If you live in LA and are struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, there is help available. Thousands of people—locals and travelers alike—get treatment in Los Angeles rehabs every year. For more information, contact a treatment provider today.
