Pomona, CA Drug and Alcohol Statistics
Like most cities in Los Angeles County, California, Pomona has faced drug and alcohol misuse issues among residents for many years. Data collected during 2019 and 2020 by the Los Angeles Department of Public Health for Service Planning Area 3 (to which Pomona belongs) shows that:2, 3

There were 6,497 admissions to publicly funded rehabs (roughly 13% of all admissions in LA County).

Roughly 33% completed treatment and 19% left treatment with satisfactory progress.

Roughly 35% left a treatment program early due to unsatisfactory progress.

More males (3,293) than females (1,924) were admitted to publicly funded treatment.
Among persons admitted to publicly funded treatment:2, 3
- Nearly 33% reported that methamphetamine was their primary substance of use.
- Roughly 31% reported primarily using heroin.
- Approximately 17% reported primarily using alcohol.
- Nearly 6% reported primarily using prescription drugs.
Cost of Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Pomona, CA
What you’ll pay for alcohol or drug rehab in Pomona depends on several variables, including the type of treatment you need and the length of your program. The facility you choose, whether you have health insurance, and whether you qualify for aid will also impact your out-of-pocket rehab costs.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 141 rehab facilities exist within a 10-mile radius of Pomona.1 Many of these facilities accept multiple forms of payment, and some offer financial assistance to qualifying individuals. Of the 141 treatment centers located in and near Pomona:1
If you need treatment, but your financial situation may make it difficult or virtually impossible to pay for it, you can still get help. Several resources exist to aid you in accessing low-cost or free care that can help you jumpstart your recovery.
Free Treatment Options in Pomona
To find reduced-cost or free treatment in the Pomona area, you can start by conducting an online search “best substance rehab near me.” Then call each facility in your search results to ask if they offer any type of financial assistance. You can also call our free helpline for assistance locating rehab centers in Pomona that can work with you, regardless of your ability to pay.
Sliding Scale Rehab Programs
Pomona alcohol rehabs and drug rehabs that offer treatment services on a sliding fee scale will use your income to determine what you can afford to pay. If you have a low income, the facility will discount the cost of your rehab program to a specific percentage of the program’s total cost.
While each facility’s sliding scale may be different, most use federal poverty guidelines to determine incremental, income-based discounts.4 Households with incomes at or below the federal poverty level typically qualify for the lowest possible fee, which may be $0. Policies and qualifications vary by facility.
State-Funded Treatment Programs
Government-funded rehab programs serve California residents who are uninsured or underinsured and lack the resources to pay for their care. If you’re struggling financially, you may be eligible for a low-cost or free program at a state-funded alcohol or drug rehab in Pomona.
To qualify for enrollment, you’ll need to provide proof of income, lack of insurance, and state residency. You’ll likely also need to provide proof of your addiction status via a comprehensive substance use assessment. To learn more about where you can find these programs and what you need to qualify, you can contact the California Department of Healthcare Services.5
Rehab Scholarships
If you’re uninsured or underinsured and can’t afford to pay for some or all of your treatment costs, you may qualify for a rehab scholarship. Some treatment centers offer these awards to financially disadvantaged patients, but you can also apply for scholarships from third-party donor organizations like 10,000 Beds. Various community organizations, religious institutions, and social services groups may also offer scholarships to individuals in need.
Insurance-Covered Treatment Programs
If you have health insurance, it may cover treatment at a drug or alcohol rehab in Pomona. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Healthcare Marketplace plans must offer some degree of coverage for substance use disorder treatment. The act also requires Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) plans to provide partial or full coverage for addiction treatment.6
Be aware that each rehab facility accepts different types of insurance, so you must choose a treatment center that will take your plan. If you’re unfamiliar with your benefits, you can call your provider to learn more about your coverage and which facilities are in your plan’s network.
Should I Travel to Pomona for Drug and Alcohol Treatment in California?
If you live elsewhere in California or the United States, traveling to a drug or alcohol rehab in Pomona may be beneficial for you if:
- Your health insurance will pay for treatment at Pomona drug rehabs or alcohol rehabs.
- Traveling will not put an undue burden on your finances.
- You lack access to the level of treatment you need where you currently live.
- You have family or friends in the Pomona area who can provide support.
- You want to get out of your day-to-day environment where stressors, triggers, and people might distract you from your goals and interfere with your recovery.
Traveling to Pomona for addiction treatment is a highly personal decision that only you should make based on your situation and preferences. If you feel that enrolling in a rehab facility in the area is a good fit for you, do what’s best for your needs.
Neighborhoods in Pomona for Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Pomona, California lies in the Pomona Valley between the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. The city is most well-known as the home of California State Polytechnic University, but it’s also known for its 100+ churches and religious centers representing most modern global faiths. A few areas of the city you may want to consider for rehab include:
- Downtown: This historic area is known as a regional arts and antiques destination and is home to the American Museum of Ceramic Art.
- South Pomona: The city’s southern region is home to several green spaces, including Philadelphia Park, Phillips Ranch Park, Phillips Ranch Riparian Greenbelt, and Country Crossing Park.
- North Pomona: In the city’s northern region, you’ll find the Mountain Meadows Golf Course, Ganesha Park, the LA County Fair, RailGiants Train Museum, and the NHRA Motorsports Museum. The area also allows quick access to Puddingstone Lake and Bonelli Park.
How Do I Choose a Drug or Alcohol Rehab?
As you compare Pomona alcohol rehabs and Pomona drug rehabs, think about your personal preferences and your treatment needs. Each rehab center is unique, so as you research facilities, be sure to consider:
- Payment options and cost: If you plan to use insurance, does the facility accept your plan? If you’re underinsured or uninsured, does the facility offer any type of payment assistance?
- Treatment setting: Do you need inpatient or outpatient treatment? Which treatment setting does the facility offer? It may benefit you to choose a facility that offers both.
- Facility features and amenities: Some rehab facilities offer extensive amenities while others have more basic features. If amenities are important to you, think about which ones you’d like to have access to.
- Licensing and accreditation: Double-check the facility is licensed and certified by the State of California. It’s also a good idea to choose a facility that’s accredited by at least one nationally recognized compliance organization like the Joint Commission.
- Treatment approach: Some rehab centers use alternative recovery philosophies that incorporate holistic or spiritual practices into treatment. However, all programs should center around evidence-based treatment practices and therapies.
- Program rules: If you’re planning to enroll in residential treatment, double-check each program’s rules regarding visitors and what you’re allowed to bring with you.
- Staff qualifications: Under California law, you have a right to be treated by qualified staff. Check each facility’s credentials and read up on the type of training and experience that its providers have.
Types of Addiction Treatment Programs in Pomona, CA
Pomona alcohol rehabs and drug rehabs offer several types of treatment programs to suit individuals at all stages of recovery and to accommodate various needs and preferences. They include:
- Inpatient programs: These highly supervised, immersive programs require patients to live in the rehab facility while they participate in structured, evidence-based treatment on a daily basis.
- Outpatient programs: These programs, which include IOPs and PHPs, provide structured, evidence-based treatment in an outpatient setting. Patients can live at home and must attend several weekly treatment sessions that last several hours per day.
- Dual diagnosis programs: These programs treat co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders simultaneously using evidence-based therapies for both conditions.
- Telehealth programs: These outpatient programs are virtual and take place online, usually over video. They involve multiple weekly treatment sessions consisting of evidence-based individual and group therapy.
- Executive programs: These programs provide high-level privacy and access to work-related amenities (like computers and internet) for professionals who must maintain their corporate responsibilities while undergoing treatment.
- Luxury programs: These programs provide access to several high-end amenities (private rooms, pools, personal training, gourmet meals) to make rehab as comfortable and luxurious as possible.
- Programs for special populations: These programs—which include veteran, LBBTQ+, and gender-specific programs—are sensitive to the unique needs, lived experiences, and struggles of the populations they serve. They provide a supportive and understanding environment where patients can feel safe opening up and healing together.
Alcohol and Drug Laws in Pomona, CA
Employee Protections for Voluntary Addiction Treatment: Under California Labor Code, employers with 25 or more staff must allow employees unpaid time off to recover from a serious health condition that impedes their ability to work. Staff members may also be able to use accrued sick time, vacation time, or other paid time off to participate in treatment.7
Eligible employees can also qualify for job-protected, unpaid leave under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).8, 9
911 Good Samaritan Law: In California, persons who seek emergency assistance for anyone experiencing a drug-related overdose cannot be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for certain drug-related offenses. However, the state’s Good Samaritan Law (Assembly Bill 472) only protects individuals in possession of small amounts of illicit drugs or paraphernalia. It does not grant legal immunity to anyone who appears to have an intent to distribute controlled substances.10
Justice Department Alcohol and Drug Treatment Diversion Program: Under California’s Proposition 36, eligible persons convicted of nonviolent drug possession offenses can be sentenced to probation rather than incarceration. As a condition of probation, offenders must complete a state-licensed and certified drug treatment program lasting up to one year. They must also participate in up to six months of follow-up care after graduating from treatment.11
California Ethical Treatment for Persons With Substance Use Disorder: California Senate Bill 349 was enacted to protect substance use disorder treatment clients and their families from unsafe, unethical, predatory rehab facility practices. The bill requires all California addiction rehab centers to adopt a client bill of rights that ensures patients have the right to evidence-based treatment. It also requires providers to treat patients with dignity and respect.12
Expanded Naloxone Access: California’s naloxone standing order allows various entities, community organizations, and pharmacies to distribute naloxone without a prescription to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose. Any individual who may be able to help an overdose victim can also get naloxone from these organizations with no prescription. The order also grants immunity from civil suit to anyone who, in good faith, administers naloxone to someone who appears to be overdosing.13
If you’d like help determining which Pomona drug rehabs or alcohol rehabs may be a good fit for you or someone you love, we’re here for you. Please call our 24/7 helpline at
800-926-9037
(Who Answers?)
to chat with a treatment support specialist who can help you explore your local rehab options.
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- Los Angeles County Public Health Substance Abuse Prevention and Control. (2021, August). Annual Overview: Patients in Publicly Funded Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program in Los Angeles County 2019-2020 Fiscal Year.
- Los Angeles County Public Health Substance Abuse Prevention and Control. (2021, July). Update Data Report: Accidental Drug Overdose Deaths in Los Angeles County During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Office of the Assistance Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions Related to the Poverty Guideline and Poverty.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016, December 16). Directory of Single State Agencies (SSA) for Substance Abuse Services.
- Frank, R. G., Beronio, K., & Glied, S. A. (2014). Behavioral Health Parity and the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 13(1-2), 31-43.
- California Legislature. (n.d.). Labor Code Chapter 3.7. Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation [1025-1028].
- California Civil Rights Department. (n.d.). Family, Medical, and Pregnancy Disability Leave for Employees in California.
- Cornell Law School. (n.d.). 29 CFR § 825.119 – Leave for treatment of substance abuse.
- California Legislature. (2011, June 07). Assembly Bill 472.
- California Legislature. (n.d.). Proposition 36.
- California Legislature. (2022, April 18). SB-349 California’s Ethical Treatment for Persons with Substance Use Disorder Act.
- California Department of Public Health. (2018, June 18). Naloxone Standing Order Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)