West of downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica is a coastal city known for its sunny and warm Californian weather. A hub for residents and travelers alike, the famed Santa Monica Pier within Pacific Park is the city’s historic landmark surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.
Although this seaside city is surrounded by fun and beauty, it is sadly one of the many cities across the United States that is plagued by a growing drug and alcohol abuse epidemic.
People are being driven away from seeking help for addiction due to the stigma and shame associated with the topic of substance abuse. While feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment are common, it is important to ask for help, as those who suffer in silence will end up suffering consequences such as overdose, and worse death.
Substance abuse is a consequence of a choice, not a moral failure that signifies the end of your life. Through a multitude of available drug and alcohol treatment resources, we pride ourselves in helping people recover from dependence and addiction, and most importantly, reclaim their lives. 
Santa Monica Drug Abuse Statistics – You’re Not Alone in This Struggle
At Ken Seeley Rehab, our multidisciplinary team of addiction specialists, medical and mental health professionals understand that addiction is a chronic disease that doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone of any age, race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
California isn’t a stranger when it comes to drug abuse, especially to opioids. Although all drug misuse is viewed as deplorable, Santa Monica, CA and the surrounding areas continue finding themselves fighting back against overdose-related incidences due to opioid use.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2018, approximately 164.8 million people (60.2 percent) 12 years old and up within the United States used substances.
Out of the 164.8 million, 31.9 individuals used illicit drugs, including opioids such as heroin. Sadly, every year since late 2016, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has reported 400 deaths due to opioid use.
The number of people suffering from addiction throughout America continues to be unnerving. If you or a loved one is suffering from drug addiction in Santa Monica, CA, and the surrounding areas, know that you are not alone!
Those who require treatment, know that there are help and resources available for addiction. The best way to end your dependence on drugs and recover is through a comprehensive treatment program at a rehab facility.
Santa Monica Recovery Meetings Near Me
If you have finally come to terms with the control that drugs and alcohol have taken over all aspects of you or a loved one’s life, that is the first step. Sobriety does not just begin when someone enters treatment, it continues afterward, which is arguably when it is the hardest for people to maintain.
Relapse
When in the early stages of treatment during the recovery process, it is not unusual for people to continue to crave drugs or alcohol and have intrusive/obsessive thoughts, especially after the detoxification and withdrawal process.
When times get tough, people tend to go back to drinking or taking drugs as the familiar defense and coping mechanisms are to do so. This is called a relapse, defined as a person who starts to use again after a period of abstinence.
As mentioned before, relapse is not an uncommon occurrence. Despite a person’s best efforts to maintain sobriety, the probability of relapsing is extremely common after newly completing treatment, and even during. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states, that 90 percent of people with alcoholism relapse within four years after completing their first stint of addiction treatment.
Relapse Prevention: Recovery Meetings
Preventing relapse in the early stages of addiction treatment for drug and alcohol abuse is very difficult, but can be done with the right treatment programs and tools.
While treatment programs such as aftercare are beneficial in helping people continue their recovery after leaving treatment and in preventing relapse, it is not the only method used.
To help resettle into normal life after inpatient or outpatient treatment programs and prevent relapse, there are various types of recovery meetings for support as often as needed. These are known as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery meetings, Al-Anon, and Nar-Anon meetings. The meeting is beneficial as they act as a form of support for people, and show they are not alone. They also offer advice, education, spiritual support, and information on local addiction and provide other recovery resources.
There are various 12-Step recovery meetings in Santa Monica, CA, and the surrounding areas. These include the following:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meetings:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are meetings dedicated to helping people who suffer from alcoholism remain sober or give them the will, tools, and support to quit drinking. For men and women who want to recover from just alcohol dependence, AA meetings offer advice, education, spiritual support, and resources on addiction and relapse prevention.
Below are some of the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings available in the Santa Monica, CA area:
Solutions and Serenity
Where:
1220 2nd St.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Manhattan Chowder
Where:
633 Kensington Rd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Living Sober
Where:
1458 26th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings:
Below are some of the Narcotics Anonymous meetings available in the Santa Monica, CA area:
Reed Park Senior Citizen Center
Where:
1133 7th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
CLARE Drug Court
Where:
1020 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Joslyn Park
Where:
633 Kensington Rd. Main Room
Santa Monica, CA 90405
SMART Recovery Meetings:
SMART Recovery Meetings are more scientific than spiritual. They use a 4-Point program, which focuses on aiding in addiction recovery, by teaching personal responsibility, self-empowerment, and self-reliance.
Below are some of the SMART recovery meetings available in the Santa Monica, CA area:
Matrix Institute on Addictions
Where:
1849 Sawtelle Blvd. Suite # 100
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Hazelden Betty Ford
Where:
10700 Santa Monica Blvd. Ste. 310
Los Angeles, CA 90025
University Lutheran Chapel
Where:
10915 Strathmore Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon Meetings:
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon groups understand that someone is always affected by the powerful disease of addiction. These types of meetings are dedicated to helping people find hope in their situation.
Below are some of the Al-Anon and Nar-Anon meetings available in the Santa Monica, CA area:
Al-Anon Meetings
Where:
Colorado Center Office Complex
2500 Broadway
Santa Monica CA 90404
Nar-Anon Meetings
Where:
Fox Hills Nar-Anon
6666 Green Valley Circle Share Bldg.
Culver City, CA 90230
Inpatient Vs. Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Santa Monica
Detoxification is the first step in addiction recovery before any initial treatment program can officially begin. When someone is highly dependent and addicted to substances such as drugs and alcohol, the most effective way to avoid further severe physical and psychological health complications, is to rid the body of these toxins.
Detox is a very comprehensive process that uses a mix of both counseling/therapy and FDA-approved anti-craving medications.
Due to this unconventional way of removing these substances, the body reacts by producing mild to severe physiological symptoms known as withdrawal. These symptoms are often unpleasant and include nausea/vomiting, shakes/chills, diarrhea, hallucinations, sweating, insomnia, reduced appetite, anxiety, depression, etc.
To meet each individual’s needs and goals, addiction specialists will create a comprehensive treatment plan, addressing addiction and other underlying risk factors, such as mental illness for the best chances of a full recovery, and long-lasting sobriety.
After the detoxification process, and the drugs and alcohol are completely out of the system, treatment can finally begin. Everyone and their addictions are different, from family history to severity. Therefore, all treatment methods vary, as people’s needs are different and unique.
The two most common types of treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) are inpatient and outpatient rehab.
Santa Monica Inpatient Treatment Programs
Also known as residential rehab, inpatient treatment programs are for people with more severe addictions to drugs and alcohol. During this type of treatment, patients are required to stay at the rehab facility to receive around-the-clock medical care.
During inpatient treatment, individuals follow a multidisciplinary treatment plan, which usually includes detoxification, group, and individual therapy, mental health therapy, etc. In Santa Monica, CA, people enrolled in inpatient programs are living at the facility for 3-6 weeks or longer for more severe cases of addiction that warrant more recovery time. After residential treatment, outpatient treatment is usually the next option.
Santa Monica Outpatient Treatment Programs
After inpatient treatment usually comes outpatient rehab. People who have completed inpatient treatment often transition into outpatient treatment, or begin with outpatient as their addiction may be less severe.
Outpatient treatment programs are known as the least restrictive substance abuse treatment method. Unlike inpatient treatment, people who are enrolled in outpatient programs can create their recovery meeting schedules to receive treatment and return home after attending meetings and counseling at the rehab facility.
The main benefit of outpatient treatment is that people can maintain a level of independence to attend work, school, and do other activities, all while receiving extensive hours of treatment every week.
Both inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment rehab facilities provide an active network of support and a safe place to recover from drug and alcohol addiction.
Getting Help in Santa Monica: How to Choose the Right Facility
Choosing the right rehab facility as well as, the right addiction specialists to help end you or a loved one’s substance dependence and misuse is a life-changing decision. Luckily, there is a large network of drug and alcohol treatment centers in Santa Monica, CA and nearby surrounding cities.
As you examine all of your options for substance abuse treatment in Santa Monica, it may be necessary to seek treatment outside of the Los Angeles Area, if need be, to see how a national network of addiction centers can help you achieve sobriety. There is help out there available, and it is right around the corner!
Mental Health Services in Santa Monica
To cope with the symptoms of mental illness, people often turn to substances such as drugs and alcohol. This results in various physical and psychological health complications, but most importantly, despite the consequences when use continues, it leads to dependence and then addiction.
Mental health is probably the most important aspect of a human being. It influences how people feel, think, and behave. When the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin are not released properly, too much or too little, this results in the development of mental illness.
Mental illness is categorized by type. They include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma-related disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders. The most common disorders include:
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- PTSD
- OCD
Dual Diagnosis
Substance abuse is a huge risk factor for mental illness and vice versa. When addiction and mental illness coincide, this is known as dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders. Drinking or taking drugs to cope with symptoms actually exacerbates things.
Mental Health Stigma
Truth is, mental disorders are extremely common but are often misunderstood. The stigma surrounding mental health causes discrimination and self-doubt. As a result, those who do need help for addiction and an underlying mental illness, the feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment often deter people from receiving the necessary help.
Mental illness and addiction when left untreated or misdiagnosed cause major complications including overdose, and even death. However, when properly treated in a rehab facility, mental disorders, and substance use disorders are often treated and managed together as a whole entity, for the best chance at a successful recovery and maintaining sobriety.
Recovery is Possible!
If you struggle with addiction and mental illness, you don’t have to live like this any longer! Help is available. Taking action to recover and take back your life after addiction is difficult. Although, in Santa Monica, CA and the surrounding areas, with the right methods of help and available addiction treatment resources, luckily recovery and sobriety are possible! Contact us for more help on your journey.
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