The land of fun and sun has a dark underside. Rates of substance abuse in California, per the latest federal reports, indicate that substance abuse in the state ranks above the national average for all age categories. The good news, however, is that treatment for drug and alcohol abuse in California is relatively easy to come by. As of 2006, there were 1,820 licensed drug and alcohol treatment centers in California, 63% of which received some form of federal, state, or local funds to offset the cost of treatment for the nearly 200,000 people who seek drug or alcohol treatment in California each year. Of those facilities, the majority (71%) offered outpatient programs, while only 41% offered inpatient care of the type often required to treat stubborn addiction and self-destructive behavior patterns.

While California in general ranks below the national average for alcohol abuse, that does not include people age 26 and over. As shown in this chart, this age group is at special risk in California. Alcohol treatment centers across the state have long been dedicated to fighting this pernicious problem, which is compounded by widespread acceptance of social drinking among adults.

Because the number of patients seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse in California has trended steadily upward over the past several years, competition for funding among public and private facilities is intense. Families facing a substance abuse problem must choose carefully among available rehabilitation centers to determine which may have the staff and resources required to adequately treat their particular problem.

Experience in a particular drug problem should be another factor when evaluating programs. For the past 13 years in California, the incidence of heroin, alcohol, and cocaine has been dropping among patients admitted for treatment, while the same period has witnessed a sharp spike in marijuana and meth abuse. Methamphetamine is one of the most difficult of all addictions to treat, and the spread of this highly-addictive drug is rampant across California and the United States. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency rates meth as the primary drug threat in California, a fact borne out by the chart below. Be certain, therefore, that the California drug rehabilitation center you choose is experienced in treating this form of addiction.

California’s shared border with Mexico makes the state a prime recipient of illicit drugs smuggled in by Mexican drug cartels, but it also opens the door to a flood of prescription drugs more easily obtained in Mexico than in the United States. California residents can cross into Tijuana and visit any number of “border pharmacies” to obtain opiate-based painkillers like Valium, which have trapped many thousands of people into addiction. Treatment centers in California must therefore deal with problems originating in Mexico. Families should be aware of the dangers and seek aggressive professional help when confronted with even a minor substance abuse problem.