Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers in California
Substance misuse is an unfortunate and common occurrence in the state of California. The misuse of alcohol, amphetamines, heroin, and marijuana are all common throughout the state.9 Overdose deaths from fentanyl usage are also on the rise in California.9 Overall, a strong network of alcohol and drug rehab centers can provide vital treatment to those struggling with substance misuse in California. Understanding the scope of the substance use challenges in California and how to find local detox centers in the state can help you or a loved one begin the journey to recovery.
Types of Rehabilitation Centers in California
In Los Angeles, San Diego County, Orange County, Laguna Beach, or any other part of Southern California, there are an exceptional amount of treatment options. The many choices available could leave many Californians wondering, “how do I pick the right rehab program for me?”
When it comes to addiction treatment, there are several different types available. The most widely recognized types of care are detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment.
The table below showcases the number of rehab facilities in California that offer each level of care:
| Treatment Types Offered in California | ||
| Facilities | ||
| No. | % | |
| Outpatient | 1,041 | 69.31% |
| Regular | 941 | 62.65% |
| Intensive | 588 | 39.15% |
| Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization | 265 | 17.64% |
| Detoxification | 209 | 13.91% |
| Methadone/buprenorphine maintenance or naltrexone treatment | 283 | 18.84% |
| Residential (non-hospital) | 572 | 38.08% |
| Short Term | 406 | 27.03% |
| Long Term | 503 | 33.49% |
| Detoxification | 273 | 18.18% |
| Hospital Inpatient | 34 | 2.26% |
| Treatment | 23 | 1.53% |
| Detoxification | 30 | 2.00% |
| Total | 1,502 | 100.00% |
Drug and Alcohol Detox in California
Detox is most often recommended required for benzos (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, etc) or alcohol addiction but is not limited to opioids, stimulants, or other drugs. Also known as withdrawal treatment, detox tends to be the first step for many people struggling with addiction and manage their physical dependency on drugs or alcohol and safely stabilize before entering another treatment program. Additionally, professionally supervised detox decreases the likelihood of potential relapse.
In short, if you are considering attending treatment for the first time, you may consider detox before other levels of care like inpatient and outpatient treatment.
According to the data provided above gathered from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration), 512 of 1502 treatment centers in California offer some form of detox. However, only 30 of the 1502 treatment centers in California offer medical detox. One of which is American Addiction Centers‘ very own medical detox facility, Laguna Treatment Hosptial of Aliso Viejo in Orange County. If you’re open to other forms of detox, like social detox or outpatient detox you may find free detox centers and private detox clinics across the southern half of the state, particularly Los Angeles County, San Diego County, and Orange County.
Rehabilitation Centers in California
In California, a total of 595 of the 1502 treatment centers offer some form of inpatient treatment. An inpatient rehab program is the most intensive type of addiction treatment available for drugs or alcohol. Inpatient rehab requires the patient to live on-site and adhere to the programming of treatment services, which may include therapy, support group sessions, one-on-one therapy, and more. Longer-term programs operating in this model are called residential treatment programs.
Although there are options for inpatient or residential treatment in Northern California, the majority of California treatment centers exist in the southern half of the state. In fact, areas like San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles have all become destinations for rehab.
Outpatient rehab options are generally easier to find locally. In fact, according to SAMHSA, 1041 of the 1502 treatment centers in California offer outpatient rehab. Outpatient rehab often costs less than inpatient programs to attend and to run, making them more widely available. If you have attended detox or inpatient rehab already, you will likely be able to find a local outpatient rehab center no matter which part of the state you reside, northern or southern. Rather than living in a residential setting, attending outpatient rehab means you are able to return to their normal routines while setting aside time for group and individual therapy sessions throughout the week.
Therapy at California Rehab Centers
The last thing to consider when choosing a treatment program is its specialization. For instance, American Addiction Centers specializes in the dual-diagnosis treatment model. This means that we specialize in treating co-occurring disorders (mental health disorders occurring alongside drug or alcohol addiction). Other facilities could specialize in holistic therapies like yoga & meditation. Some rehab centers are even wilderness-based. So with that said, once you have figured out which type of substance abuse treatment is right for you, be sure to learn what that treatment provider specializes in too. Keep in mind that your treatment plan will depend on your personal circumstances and the recommendation of your treatment provider.
State-Funded Rehab in California
After considering what type of treatment is the best fit, the most common concern for people interested in attending rehab or detox is how they will pay for treatment. There are several items to consider when choosing a provider to ensure that the facility will suit your needs. The first of which is deciding whether you will attend state-funded rehab or a privately owned one. The second will be how you pay.
Private detox clinics or rehab centers are typically attended by people who have health insurance that will cover the costs of detox or rehab. Additionally, people who have the financial means to pay for treatment without insurance will often seek private rehab centers due to a major difference in amenities and rehab services that state-funded programs in California offer.
Government and state-funded rehab centers may be more accessible to those who do not have private insurance or personal funds to cover private treatment. However, free or low-cost rehab centers in California are in higher demand resulting in limited availability and accept patients on an as-needed basis. This means that those with the most severe addictions usually receive treatment first, while others may be placed on a waitlist.5
In summary, state-funded programs generally have lower quality amenities, lower staff-to-patient ratios, and other limitations private programs may not have.
The table below breaks down the number of rehab centers by whether they are private non-profit, private for-profit, locally-funded, state-funded, or federally-funded so that you can understand the number of state or government-funded options available in California.
| State-Funded vs. Private Treatment Centers in California | ||
| Facilities | ||
| No. | % | |
| Private Non-Profit | 744 | 49.53% |
| Private for Profit | 562 | 37.42% |
| Local, county, or community government | 136 | 9.05% |
| State government | 5 | 0.33% |
| Federal Government | 34 | 2.26% |
| Tribal Government | 21 | 1.40% |
| Total | 1,502 | 100.00% |
How to Pay for Rehab in California
While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has mandated that all plans cover substance use disorder treatment, not everyone is able to afford an ACA plan through the Marketplace. 7
Many Californians remain uninsured. Although this may be disheartening to those seeking treatment without insurance, this should not stop people from attempting to find the treatment they need.
The table below breaks down the typical ways people pay for rehab and how many facilities in California accept each payment type so you can understand the type of options you may have to pay for treatment.
| Treatment Center Payment Options in California | ||
| No. | % | |
| Cash or self-payment | 1,244 | 82.82% |
| Private Health Insurance | 875 | 58.26% |
| Medicare | 314 | 20.91% |
| Medicaid | 587 | 39.08% |
| State-financed Health insurance | 381 | 25.37% |
| Federal military insurance | 243 | 16.18% |
| No payment accepted (free treatment for all clients) | 71 | 4.73% |
| IHS/Tribal/Union (ITU) funds | 207 | 13.78% |
| Other payments | 3 | 0.20% |
| Sliding fee scale | 876 | 58.32% |
| Treatment at no charge or minimal payment for clients who can’t pay | 693 | 46.14% |
| Total | 1502 | 100.00% |
As you can see in the table above, 875 of the total 1,502 treatment centers in California accept private insurance, 1,244 also accept cash or self-payment. At least 381 of the 1,502 accept state-financed health insurance and 243 accept federal insurance plans like Medicaid or Medicare.
While not having a private insurance plan could limit your options, always remember that there are plenty of treatment facilities out there to help you. If you do have private insurance, you may select your insurance carrier from the list below for more information on how to use your coverage to pay for rehab in California:
What is the Cost of Rehab in California?
The cost of rehab in California can vary significantly depending on the extent of your coverage. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that insurance plans provide some degree of coverage for the treatment of behavioral health disorder (like Substance Use Disorder), there are several factors that can cause your coverage to vary.6 Where you receive treatment, the intensity and length of said treatment, the type of insurance you have, and whether or not the rehab is in-network can all affect your coverage. It’s best to reach out to your insurance provider before committing to treatment to check your coverage.
California Treatment Center Accreditations
Once you have decided what type of level of care would best suit you and what kind of provider is the best fit for your payment method, you should next consider the accreditation of the facility you are considering.
Accreditations are an important part of selecting the right treatment provider. In California, you can find board-certified addiction-medicine doctors on the California Society of Addiction Medicine website and you can also check the website of the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals.9 Leveraging these tools can help you identify reputable providers and weed out any potentially unscrupulous facilities.
Additionally, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredits operators worldwide at the request of health and human service providers. The Joint Commission Accreditation for Addiction Treatment Providers (often referred to simply as the Joint Commission) also provides accreditation to service providers.10
Please note that in California the state does not require licensing requirements to operate an outpatient addiction or mental health treatment program. While many states require operators to become licensed and adhere to certain standards, California only offers an optional IOP certification for adult alcohol and drug treatment programs.11 Instead, many operators look to the CARF for best practices and standards.
The table below breaks down the typical accreditations along with the number of facilities that hold each type of accreditation:
| California Treatment Center Accreditations | ||
| No. | % | |
| Any listed agency/organization | 1,404 | 93.48% |
| State substance abuse agency | 1,120 | 74.57% |
| State mental health department | 244 | 16.25% |
| State department of health | 756 | 50.33% |
| Hospital licensing authority | 48 | 3.20% |
| The Joint Commission | 282 | 18.77% |
| Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) | 427 | 28.43% |
| National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) | 49 | 3.26% |
| Council on Accreditation (COA) | 71 | 4.73% |
| Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) | 10 | 0.67% |
| Other national organization or federal, state or local agency | 55 | 3.66% |
| Total | 1502 | 100.00% |
As you can see, regardless of how you plan to pay for treatment or what type of treatment you are looking for, there are a number of reputable providers with accreditations serving the state of California.
How to Find a Rehab Center in California
Struggling with addiction, particularly withdrawal, can be the most difficult part of achieving sobriety. It can also be the most dangerous. At American Addiction Centers, our mission is to provide people information they need to feel comfortable choosing a treatment center.
If you are looking for help and aren’t sure where to start, give our confidential detox hotline a call. You’ll speak with one of our admissions navigators. Their purpose is to answer your questions and help you find treatment either at one of our facilities or educate you on where you may be able to find treatment elsewhere.
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