Los Angeles is home to nearly 4 million people, many of whom are struggling with the disease of addiction. The City of Angels is anything but for those who are hooked on cocaine, meth, heroin, and other addictive substances. In fact, one of the things that Los Angeles is known for is Skid Row, a neighborhood filled with anywhere from 8,000-11,000 homeless people. A huge majority of this homeless population is addicted to drugs, and upwards of 12,000 people pass through this area each year.
But, drug addiction isn’t something that only impacts the residents of Skid Row, as it is something that affects even the wealthiest of neighborhoods like Bel Air, Malibu, and Beverly Hills. Drug addiction is so common in the Los Angeles area for a number of reasons, including its proximity to the Mexican border, the sheer wealth of many of its residents, and its access to Hollywood, where drugs flow as easily as water. Even though Los Angeles has a large population of individuals who have a drug addiction, it is also home to several drug rehab options and communities.
The Los Angeles Drug Rehab Community
The Los Angeles drug rehab community is vast and expansive. Not only are there countless addiction treatment centers in the area, but there are also options for maintaining recovery for the long-term. But first, let’s start with professional treatment.
Detox
Detox services are readily available throughout the Los Angeles area and serve as the first step on the road to recovery for many individuals. When in detox, a person works to clear their bodies of all drugs, alcohol, and other addictive substances so that they can begin treatment with a clean, fresh slate. Unfortunately, detoxing is not always the easiest process to go through, as it causes several withdrawal symptoms to develop that can range in severity from mild to severe (and can sometimes be life-threatening). Being enrolled in a detox center affords individuals the opportunity to have their withdrawal symptoms professionally managed so they are easier to get through. Because Los Angeles is such a tight-knit drug rehab community, most detox centers are already prepared to refer patients to addiction treatment programs when their detox is completed.
Addiction treatment programs
It is a typical progression for people to go from detox into an addiction treatment program, but for those who do not require detox, this is where they begin their recovery. Throughout Los Angeles, there are treatment programs that offer the following levels of care:
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization programming
- Intensive outpatient programming
- Outpatient treatment
Depending on what a patient needs, they may spend anywhere from 28 days to a few months in treatment. In Los Angeles, patients of a drug rehab program can transition out of professional treatment at their own pace and continue to work on their recovery when they get back to living their everyday lives. Some of the most common ways they do this is by getting connected to community support groups and activities.
Community support groups
Los Angeles, like most other parts of the country, has several support group meetings that occur on a daily basis. For recovering drug addicts, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is the top go-to support group in the community. Held in different parts of the city and focusing on different areas of recovery, NA helps individuals maintain their recovery by giving them a place to talk about their lives, listen to the stories of others’ lives, and work the 12 Steps in ways that promote continued recovery. In a city where seemingly everyone knows everyone, NA is a welcomed option for those who want to maintain their anonymity while still being able to be active in their recovery.
Sober Meetups
Residents of Los Angeles are often taking their activities outdoors because of how closely located they are to the coast. The weather in Los Angeles is notoriously warm and sunny, encouraging people to get out and get moving. Luckily for recovering drug addicts, there is a massive community of others in recovery who participate in different types of activities together. So, for those who want to have sober fun without the pressure of having to use, sober Meetups are a viable option.
Meetup is a company that connects people together based on commonly shared interests. In the Los Angeles area, there are dozens of Meetups strictly designed for the sober community. Some of these Meetups are as follows:
- Adventure groups
- Hiking groups
- Workout groups
- Meditation groups
- Moms groups
Recovering drug addicts in Los Angeles can simply sign on to the Meetup website and search for sober groups. Doing this immediately connects them to others who share the same goal of staying in recovery and living a sober life.
Benefits of the Los Angeles Drug Rehab Community
The Los Angeles area is no stranger to drug addiction, in fact, it is woven into the fabric of the city itself. But thankfully, there is a strong drug rehab community in the area that can help keep those who want to stay sober from using again. Some of the greatest benefits of the Los Angeles drug rehab community include the following:
- Access to some of the top addiction specialists in the country
- Warm, sunny weather to help combat symptoms of depression
- Opportunities to get active and stay active
- Chances to develop and expand one’s support network with others in recovery
Drug Rehab in Los Angeles
If you are living in the Los Angeles area and are grappling with a drug addiction, call us right now. You do not have to go through this disease on your own, nor should you have to. By reaching out to us, you can get started on the road to recovery with our guidance and unwavering support.
So, do not wait any longer. Call us today and begin making the changes in your life that will support the future you want to have. We can help.
