Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs in California

Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Programs in California

As the most populous state in America, California also has one of the highest numbers of drug rehab facilities: 1,797 according to SAMHSA. These facilities include

California's large and diverse population can also benefit from specialized services that target everyone from adolescents to adults, pregnant and postpartum women to seniors, veterans to members of the LGBT community.

California Drug Rehab Breakdown

• Demographic Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Patients with co-occurring mental health disorders: 58.5 percent
• Adult women: 55.6 percent
• Adult men: 54.6 percent
• Patients who have suffered domestic abuse: 35.1 percent
• LGBT community members: 32 percent
• Seniors: 29.7 percent
• Veterans: 27.9 percent
• Pregnant or postpartum women: 26.7 percent
• Adolescents: 17.4 percent
• Active duty military: 14.6 percent
• Payment Options Breakdown (By percentage of drug rehab facilities):
• Cash or self-payment: 84.1 percent
• Private insurance: 62.9 percent
• Sliding fee: 53.5 percent
• Minimal charge or no-charge treatment for patients in need: 41.3 percent
• Medicaid: 38.1 percent
• Federal military insurance: 21.8 percent
• Medicare: 20.1 percent
• ITU funds: 16.2 percent
• Free treatment: 4.1 percent

The variety in demographics served and payments accepted makes it easier for California residents to seek the rehab they need to overcome their addictions.

Treatment Approaches in California

12 Step

12-step programs are common in California. 74 percent of addiction recovery facilities in the state offer facilitation for these programs. The first 12-step program was Alcoholics Anonymous, founded in 1938 to provide structure for recovery from alcohol addiction. Today, 12-step programs offer the same kind of support for drug addiction as well. The programs' success is due to its community-based approach, regular meetings, and 12 principles that guide addicts toward a recovery that lasts. Its effectiveness is well-known. One study of veterans demonstrated an 18-month abstinence rate for 12-step programs that was twice that of veterans who did not attend a program.

Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring

According to SAMHSA reporting, individuals who suffer from mental illness are significantly more likely to suffer from a substance abuse disorder as well - A condition known as a co-occurring illness or a dual diagnosis. As of 2019, almost 9.5 million people experienced a co-occurring illness, according to a SAMHSA report, an increase of 300,000 over 2018. California facilities understand and cater to the intensive and complex needs of these patients. 58.5 percent of facilities offer services that are appropriate for these patients.

Detox

The first step in recovery is often a medically-supervised withdrawal from addictive substances. Called detox, this process enables the patient to pursue their recovery in a more clear-minded and safe manner, and is often followed by additional services from a drug rehab center. In California, detox occurs in outpatient, inpatient residential, and hospital rehab settings, with the largest percentage (13.1 percent) occurring in an outpatient setting.

Short-Term Inpatient Rehab

Residential rehab provides a place where patients can live while receiving round-the-clock monitoring and support for their recovery. Residential programs that last less than 30 days are referred to as short-term inpatient rehab, and constitute 35.8 percent of California's drug rehab facilities.

Long-Term Residential Rehab

Residential programs that provide their services for longer than 30 days are referred to as long-term residential rehabs. Most suitable for complex or longstanding addictions, these facilities make up 39.2 percent of all the drug rehab facilities in California.

Rehab Costs In California

One of the obstacles patients worry about when it comes to their addiction recovery is how to pay for it. While the reality is that drug rehab comes with financial costs, the exact cost will vary depending upon a patient's:

• Rehab program
• Therapy
• Aftercare
• Treatment approaches
• Insurance coverage
• And more

In order to make drug rehab affordable, patients can pay using a variety of sources, or by utilizing some of the free programs in the state. In fact, 41.3 percent of facilities offer treatment at no or minimal charge for patients who cannot afford to pay for their addiction recovery treatment.

Private Health Insurance for Addiction Rehab

Private health insurance comes in many forms, and is often the result of employment or purchasing insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA)'s insurance marketplace. Whichever form it takes, however, private insurance usually pays some or all of the costs of recovery for addicts. Patients wishing to use their private insurance for rehab should discuss the details of their coverage with their program and with their insurance provider.

Medicaid and Medicare for Addiction Rehab

Low-income residents of California can receive Medicaid and Medicare from the federal government. These income-based insurance programs cover drug rehab in full for those who qualify. In California, 38.1 percent of facilities accept Medicaid, and 20.1 percent accept Medicare.

Uninsured Addiction Rehab

Uninsured patients can still receive drug rehab in California, thanks to a number of facilities that offer financial assistance to patients in need. Whether they simply fall through the cracks because they make too much money for Medicare and Medicaid or because they do not make enough money for private insurance, these financial assistance services put rehab within reach.

Sliding Scale Payments

Discounts on drug rehab programs are sometimes offered to patients based on their ability to pay. For example, patients with lower incomes will be charged less than patients with higher incomes. In California, 53.5 percent of facilities offer sliding scale fees for their services.

Free drug rehab

A small number (4.1 percent) of drug rehab programs in California offer free treatment to every patient. However, the number of facilities that do not charge patients, or minimize their charges in light of patient need, is much higher, at 41.3 percent. These facilities are often either nonprofit entities, recipients of state funds, or capable of leveraging other financial assistance and payment plan options to make rehab possible regardless of income.

Patients who wish to find affordable and effective treatment can call any addiction recovery center to discuss their needs and payment options.

California Drug Treatment Overview

There are many pros and cons that come with California's addiction recovery services. Here is a look at some of the most important:

Pros

A relatively high percentage (26.9 percent) of residential rehab programs offer detox services, making it easier for patients to safely begin their recovery.

24 percent of facilities accept the California state insurance plan, putting rehab within reach of many patients.

70.8 percent of California's drug rehab programs screen for mental illness, making it more likely that patients with co-occurring mental health issues receive the treatment they need.

California programs offer a higher-than-usual number of services for children who accompany their parents to rehab. Childcare for these children is offered by 10.4 percent of facilities, while 5 percent of facilities offer beds for them.

Cons

California has a low rate of acceptance for Medicare and Medicaid. This can make it more difficult for low-income patients to find a facility that can affordably assist them in their recovery.

California's drug rehab facilities rarely accept military insurance. The overall rate for the state is 21.8 percent.

96.4 percent of facilities offer Spanish-speaking services from their counselors, which makes getting treatment in their preferred language easier for California's large Spanish-speaking population.

California Drug Use Statistics

Drug addiction is a major problem in many areas throughout the United States, and California is no exception. Here is a look at some of the state's most important statistics on drug use and overdoses:

From California Behavioral Health:

• 8 percent of the state's population (270 million people) suffer from a substance abuse disorder.
• Marijuana, opioids, heroin, and cocaine are the most-abused substances in California.
• The fatal drug overdose death rate is 12.8 percent in California.
• Only 12 percent of people who need drug rehab in the state receive it.

From the SAMHSA:

• 116,576 individuals over the age of 12 were admitted for substance abuse treatment in California in 2020.
• 31.8 percent of these admissions were for amphetamines.
• 24.8 percent of these admissions were for heroin..