Top 15 Drug Rehab Centers in California & Free Treatment Resources

California Alcohol Abuse Statistics

About 18% of adults in California admitted to alcohol abuse, including binge drinking or heavy drinking within the past month.¹ What’s more, there are more alcohol-related deaths in California than anywhere else in the U.S.

To put those numbers in perspective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Californians forfeited a total of 308,831 years of potential life, thanks to alcohol abuse.¹ However, underage drinking is very low in the state.

Let’s look at the demographics related to alcohol abuse in California:¹

21.9% of excessive drinkers are men

14.2% of excessive drinkers are women

3% of alcohol-related fatalities are age 35 and older

3.3% of alcohol-related fatalities are under the age of 21

California Drug Abuse Statistics

In 2021, about 12.7% of adults reported abusing prescription drugs—including pain relievers, stimulants, and sedatives—or illicit drugs, excluding cannabis. That’s 0.7% above the national average.²

Here are a few more statistics related to drug abuse among CA adults:²

15% of men report nonmedical drug abuse

10.3% of women report nonmedical drug abuse

20.5% College graduates report the highest rates of nonmedical drug use

California Addiction Treatment Center Admissions

In 2019, roughly 146,000 people aged 12 and over were admitted to treatment centers in California.³ About 33,000 of those admissions required treatment for alcohol addiction, while the remaining admissions required treatment for drug addiction.³

Here’s a breakdown of California rehab admissions in 2019:³

60% of admissions were men

40% of admissions were women

72.3% White (non-Hispanic) adults made up most admissions

Understanding the Cost of Rehab in California

The cost of alcohol and drug rehab in California can depend on various factors, including:

Treatment setting (inpatient vs. outpatient)
Location of treatment center
Funding
Insurance
Amenities and features
Time in treatment (30 to 90 days or longer)

Typically, inpatient rehab or residential California rehab costs more than outpatient services because you pay to reside at the facility. Drug rehab programs that are classified as “executive” or “luxury treatment center” are costlier to patients.

However, treatment costs should not prevent your access to care. California offers several free and low-cost rehab treatment options that provide sliding-scale fees based on your current financial standing. If you have health insurance, whether it is private or public, several facilities will accept your insurance and provide at least partial coverage, depending on your provider or plan.

California adults who previously avoided rehabilitation care due to cost decreased 28% from 11.9% to 8.6% between 2019 and 2020.²

Payment Options for Treatment in California

Circa 2019, there were over 1,700 rehab facilities across the state of California. These facilities accept several payment methods.⁴ Of those facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:⁴

Addiction Treatment in CA: Here’s What to Expect

It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious or uneasy before you enter a rehab program. Most people don’t know what to expect, and that usually makes the process feel overwhelming and a little daunting. To help ease your mind, here are a few things you can expect from a recovery program in California.

Medical Detox

Medical detox is often the first step in the rehabilitation process, and it involves removing toxins from the body, such as drugs or alcohol. Everyone’s detox needs are different, so every detox treatment plan is unique. In most cases, however, a detox program begins with a patient evaluation, then moves into a stabilization period after withdrawal symptoms have subsided and you’ve reached a medically stable, substance-free state. The final step is preparing for entry into a substance abuse treatment program.¹³

Inpatient Care in California

If you’re starting an inpatient program, you will reside at the facility for the duration of your treatment. Your stay could last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, maybe longer, on an as-needed basis.

Upon arrival, the first thing you will be asked to do is complete intake paperwork, and your personal belongings will be searched for prohibited items like drugs, alcohol, weapons, etc. Then, a treatment expert will conduct your first assessment and evaluate your personal history, including:

Your substance use
Your family history of substance use
Your mental and physical health
Your history of withdrawal
Your treatment history

After your assessment, a specialist will create an individualized treatment plan tailored to serve your specific needs. While every California facility offers different programs and treatment methods, your initial plan will likely look similar to this:

Individual therapy, such as CBT
Group counseling
Family therapy
Peer support group meetings
Drug education and relapse-prevention classes
Medication maintenance
Aftercare planning

Depending on the facility, your treatment plan also may include experimental or holistic activities like creative arts or yoga.

Outpatient Care in California

Outpatient programs allow you to live at home and continue your daily work/activities while attending regular therapy sessions at a facility. Depending on where you receive outpatient treatment, your sessions can vary in frequency and length. Standard outpatient rehab includes a few hours of care per week and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) providing several hours of therapy per day.

If you opt for outpatient treatment, there are a variety of flexible options ranging in levels of intensity:

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are the most intensive, with several hours in an inpatient setting each day. Many people enter PHPs after finishing inpatient rehab or detox programs.

Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)
IOPs are more involved than the standard treatment, requiring a few hours of therapy several days a week.

Standard Outpatient Treatment
This form of outpatient treatment requires the least time commitment to participate, generally requiring only a few hours of meetings per week in individual therapy or support groups. Standard outpatient care is usually a good fit for those who have a solid support system but require a bit of ongoing counseling and relapse prevention coaching.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

A dual diagnosis includes both a mental health disorder and an alcohol or drug use disorder.⁵ These conditions are often co-occurring. About half of people who have a mental health disorder also have a substance abuse disorder at some point in their lives.⁵

Aftercare

Aftercare is any type of ongoing care received after graduating from an inpatient treatment center. While you’re still in rehab, you’ll work with a therapist to develop a personalized aftercare plan to support your early recovery and prevent relapse. Common examples of aftercare programs are 12-Step support groups like AA or NA, continued individual counseling, or participating in an alumni program.

Telehealth and Virtual Services

Location and travel are frequently cited as major obstacles to alcohol or drug rehabilitation. Many people simply don’t have the option or ability to access in-person treatment. Luckily, virtual or telehealth services help provide access to treatment regardless of your location.

Virtual treatments include group therapy, individual counseling, and doctor’s appointments. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to see if virtual care is covered under your plan before choosing this option.

Addiction Treatment Laws in California

California Employee Protections for Drug or Alcohol Rehab: According to California Labor Code Section 1025-1028, employers with 25 or more employees are required to provide accommodation to employees who voluntarily elect to attend alcohol or drug rehab. These accommodations may include anything from unpaid time off or permission to use sick leave or vacation time. Employees who want to attend addiction treatment may be able to request time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the California Family Rights Act (CFRA).

Treatment Opportunities for Individuals Convicted of Non-Violent Crimes: Proposition 36, also known as the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000, is a criminal sentencing initiative passed in California in November 2000. Prop 36 states that eligible nonviolent drug offenders may serve their time in a drug treatment program instead of in jail or prison.⁶

California Government Prevention and Care Services: California’s substance use disorder services have been expanded under Senate Bill 110 to include contingency management (CM)—an incentivized treatment program—as a benefit covered by Medi-Cal.⁷ Patients who exhibit substance-free behavior, like drug-free urine tests, are rewarded with vouchers or gift cards as part of a CM program. The most common use of CM is to treat addictions to methamphetamine and cocaine, but it also is helpful for recovery from alcohol use disorders.⁸

California Ethical Treatment for Persons with Substance Use Disorder Act: California Senate Bill 349 officially passed as of April 2022. It created the California Ethical Treatment for Persons with Substance Use Disorder Act to protect drug addiction treatment clients and their families. This bill calls for all individuals and families of individuals receiving addiction care to be treated with dignity, honesty, and respect. It requires treatment providers doing business in the state to adopt a client bill of rights for persons receiving treatment for substance use disorder, as specified, and to make the bill of rights available to all clients and prospective clients.⁹

California’s Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention LA: In 2013, California became the tenth state to institute a 911 Good Samaritan overdose fatality prevention law.¹⁰ This law provides limited protection from arrests, charges, or prosecution for people who seek emergency medical care or someone experiencing a drug overdose. When people engaging in drug or alcohol witness a potential overdose, they often resist calling for help for fear of legal repercussions. Fortunately, the Good Samaritan law prioritizes the safety of those who need serious medical attention over punishment for illegal substance use.

How to Choose the Right Alcohol Rehab in California

Addiction treatment is a unique and personal experience for everyone. What works best for someone else may not be the best option for you. Here are a few things to consider during your research:

Setting and Location: California offers treatment facilities in various settings, from busy city locales to more slow-paced rural feels. Take time to think about how the type of setting and proximity to home would affect your overall experience.
Insurance: If you are planning on using private health insurance to finance your treatment facility costs, you must make sure the places you are considering are in your network.
Cost: Of course, the first factor for many clients is the cost of treatment. Find out which centers offer sliding scale fees or payment plans conducive to your financial situation.
Treatment Levels: Every drug rehab in California offers different levels and types of treatment. Make sure to do your research and find the one that best suits your specific needs and will make you feel the most successful.
Amenities: If you are looking into in-patient treatment, you may want to consider what amenities are offered at each facility.
Visitor Policies: For loved ones of those seeking treatment, visitor policies may be a big factor. These vary from place to place, so be sure to ask for specific rules and regulations regarding visitation.
Accreditation: Accredited rehab centers are held to higher standards of care than the average state licensing requirements. In return, programs with accreditation treat their clients using evidence-based addiction treatment practices.

Resources

America’s Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation. (2021). Trend: Excessive Drinking, California, United States.
America’s Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation. (2021). Trend: Non-Medical Drug Use, California, United States.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2019). Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 2009-2019.
National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Quick Statistics.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2021). Dual diagnosis, MedlinePlus.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2005). Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 44. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 13-4056. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
California Legislative Information. (2021). Bill Text.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Contingency Management Interventions/Motivational Incentives (Alcohol, Stimulants, Opioids, Marijuana, Nicotine).
California Legislative Information. (2021). Bill Text.
California Drug Policy Alliance. (2013). Understanding California’s 911 Good Samaritan Law.
California Health Care Foundation. (2018). https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/SubstanceUseDisorderAlmanac2018.pdf
California Health Care Foundation. (2018). Substance Use in California: A Look at Addiction and Treatment. from https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/SubstanceUseDisorderAlmanac2018.pdf
1 Overview, Essential Concepts, and Definitions in Detoxification. (2006, January 1). NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64119/

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