Orange County has a high rate of current smokers and past-year binge drinking. According to the UC Irvine Medical Center Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) 2016, approximately 5.5 percent of Orange County residents were considered to be current smokers compared to a state average of 3.1 percent, and 35.1 percent of Orange County residents reported binge drinking alcohol in the past year as opposed to a California state average of 34 percent. More than one-third, 34 percent, of Orange County residents admit to abusing an illicit drug at some time in their lives, and 6 percent report prescription drug misuse, the 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Kaiser Foundation Hospital Anaheim & Irvine publishes.
Drug abuse and addiction are common and treatable. There are more than 14,500 specialty drug addiction treatment facilities in the United States, per the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Drug rehab is offered in a wide variety of settings and formats with many different methods and styles of care available.
Formats for Drug Rehab in Orange County
Addiction impacts each person individually, and as such, treatment needs to be tailored to suit personal circumstances and needs. It is important therefore to prioritize specific services and level of care that will be optimal.
There are many different levels, types, and options for drug rehab. One of the first things to consider is public versus private care. Public options are typically offered to those who are pregnant, demonstrate financial need, and/or are in immediate crisis first. Public services are generally managed through local community health providers that obtain state and/or federal funding so they can offer low-cost or free services to residents in need. Private drug rehab facilities can usually offer more privacy, quicker admittance, and more amenities and options.
Private and public drug rehab formats may include the following offerings:
- Outpatient programs: Outpatient services can be scheduled around a person’s existing school, family, and work obligations. They often include both counseling and therapies, life skills training, educational programs, and support services.
- Detox: Drugs and alcohol make changes to the brain that require time and space to heal, and a detox program can offer supportive, therapeutic, and pharmacological care to allow toxins to process safely out of the body. Detox can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis, depending on the severity of drug dependence. Medical detox programs typically last between three and five days on average and are followed with a comprehensive drug rehab program.
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs): These programs offer intensive care and services for a minimum of three hours per day, three days per week. They may offer similar services to an inpatient program, just on a smaller scale.
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): Generally offered as a step-down (or step-up) level of care between an inpatient and outpatient program, PHPs are highly structured and often follow an abridged version of an inpatient drug rehab program. These programs follow a strict schedule for several hours each day, and the person will then go home in the evenings and come back again the next day.
- Inpatient programs: Offering the highest and most comprehensive level of care, an inpatient program can provide around-the-clock supervision, support, and structured services. Group, family, and individual therapy and counseling services, medication management, relapse prevention programming, workshops designed to teach new and healthy coping mechanisms and stress relief, treatment for co-occurring mental and/or medical disorders, nutritional and physical health support, and aftercare are all part of a typical inpatient drug rehab program.
- Support group services: Providing peer support, mentoring, relapse prevention tools, and sober fellowship, support groups offer encouragement for a sustained recovery. Support groups are generally part of most drug rehab programs, both inpatient and outpatient.
Choosing the Best Drug Rehab Program near Irvine
Regardless of the type of drug rehab a person chooses to participate in, NIDA recommends committing to at least 90 days in a program. This can allow the brain time to heal properly from the effects of drugs and the chance to build on healthy habits and techniques for dealing with stress and learning how to cope with potential triggers to sustain abstinence and minimize relapse episodes. Factors such as location, cost, services offered, and level of care all play a role in choosing the right drug rehab program.
The longer a person has been using drugs, the more significant the level of drug dependence can be. When a person takes large amounts of drugs on a regular basis for a long time, for example, medical detox followed by an inpatient drug rehab program may be ideal. A person who isn’t as heavily dependent on drugs and has a high level of support at home, and who may not be able to put all of their obligations on hold for a length of time, may benefit from an outpatient drug rehab program.
It is important to assess individual needs and circumstances when deciding on a drug rehab program. Primary care providers (PCPs), mental health, and substance abuse treatment professionals can all help to determine what type of program will be best. Drug rehab facilities generally offer an assessment prior to admittance to set up a program that will promote a healthy recovery.
In partnership with COCCC, the City of Irvine aims to help residents obtain health insurance to pay for services. Free and low-cost health insurance is available through Medi-Cal for eligible California residents, which can be used to pay for drug rehab at approved locations and at public providers that accept it. Private and additional health insurance can also be used to pay for drug rehab services. Drug rehab facilities have trained staff on site that can help individuals and families navigate their health insurance coverage to figure out what may be covered and how to use insurance to offset some of the costs. Insurance providers can be a great resource for understanding coverage, eligibility, and payment options as well.
Location and quick admittance are other important aspects to consider when choosing a drug rehab facility. Public treatment programs often have long waiting lists for a limited amount of beds, and they may be far and few between. Private facilities near Irvine can provide immediate access to a high level of care.