Expert Insights
I never fully understood the link between addiction and homelessness until I moved to San Diego for work. I’d seen homeless people in my home state, but never anything like this. The bridges downtown were covered by tents that were occupied by multiple people (and usually a dog). In a short matter of time, I saw my share of drunken fights between homeless men, I saw a co-worker assaulted by a homeless man who was offended she offered to buy him breakfast instead of giving him cash, and I learned how to step over two men who constantly passed out in front of our office door right before lunch. But I was also very confused as to why so many addicted members of the homeless population refused to take advantage of the wealth of free treatment and recovery services offered by San Diego and California as a whole. I even asked some generational locals about it; I was told there are “too many rules they’d have to abide by – they don’t want to do it.” Despite the beauty of San Diego, the willing nature of the public to help, and the hundreds of millions of dollars poured into helping a population that desperately needs it, addiction rates and homeless rates never improved during the nearly five years I spent on the West Coast.
~ Nikki Seay
Top Drug Rehabs in San Diego
Every alcohol and drug rehab in San Diego offers its own set of unique amenities, programs, and therapies. Evidence-based treatment is available at multiple inpatient centers in San Diego. These facilities often provide a range of therapies, faith-based treatments, and outpatient options for recovery.
Below are the best addiction treatment centers in San Diego based on the following criteria:
- Offering evidence-based treatment
- Accreditation
- Certifications
- Client testimonials / reviews
Best Faith-Based Rehab: San Diego Rescue Mission
The goal of San Diego Rescue Mission is to get people off the streets permanently. They offer emergency services to help those in immediate need and a residential program to help address underlying issues.
Treatment programs include:
- Emergency services
- Residential program
- Children’s preschool
- Hunger relief
- Community outreach
Treatment programs are supported by:
- Accredited by Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
Location and contact information:
P.O. Box 80427
San Diego, CA 92138
(877) 626-1046
Best Luxury Rehab: AToN Center in Encinitas
Surrounded by trees and waterfalls on a private ten-acre sanctuary, AToN is a luxury center uses an evidence-based curriculum built on CBT, DBT, and ACT, along with mindfulness techniques. In addition, there is no blackout period in their programs, meaning that you can continue to use your cell phone, tablet, or laptop to stay in touch with your loved ones.
Treatment programs include:
- Detox services
- Residential treatment
- Aftercare
- Holistic healing
- Evidence-based therapie
Treatment programs are supported by:
- Joint Commission accreditation
- LegitScript Certified
- Better Business Bureau accredited
- National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) member
Location and contact information:
3250 Country Rose Cir
Encinitas, CA 92024
(888) 535-6973
Best Dual Diagnosis: Shoreline Recovery Center
Located in Encinitas, California, Shoreline Recovery Center provides addiction treatment, dual diagnosis treatment and mental health treatment. Their programs provide a wide continuum of care meant to address the various stages of recovery. Their services are for individuals from all walks of life who are facing various challenges and looking for assistance.
Shoreline Recovery Center specializes in
- Residential
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- Health and Wellness
- Dual Diagnosis
- Trauma Care
- Medication Assisted Treatment
Treatment programs are supported by The Joint Commission.
Location and contact information:
183 Calle Magdalena
Encinitas, CA 92024
Best Inpatient Treatment: Jackson House
Located in San Diego, California, Jackson House Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center offers alcohol and drug rehab programming to individuals seeking recovery from addiction. Their continuum of care includes everything from inpatient and residential treatment to sober living homes. Each level of care is provided to meet the client where they are at before stepping down into a lower level of care.
Jackson House Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center specializes in:
- Inpatient
- Residential
- Partial Hospitalization
- Intensive Outpatient
- Sober Living
- Dual Diagnosis
- Mental Health
- Crisis Care
- Assessments
Location and contact information:
2456 East Street
San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 503-7680
Best Women’s Rehab: Soledad House
Located in San Diego, California, Soledad House is a women’s rehab center that provides addiction services to men and women seeking recovery. Their levels of care are provided through a wide continuum of care that helps individuals from the beginning to end stages of the recovery process. The program combines evidence-based treatment interventions with holistic treatment and clinical support services.
Soledad House specializes in:
- Residential
- Partial Hospitalization
- Intensive Outpatient
- Sober Living
- Aftercare
- Relapse Prevention
- Holistic Treatment
Location and contact information:
810 Emerald Street
San Diego, California 92109
(866) 314- 3181
Best Outpatient Rehab: True Life Center
True Life Center in San Diego provides intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization services using a scientific and evidence-based approach. Here, you can find substance treatment or mental health programs.
Treatment programs include:
- Drug and alcohol addiction treatment
- Intensive outpatient program
- Partial hospitalization program
- Neurobiological integration approach
- Anxiety disorder treatment
- Trauma therapy
- Mood disorder treatment
Treatment programs are supported by:
- Joint Commission accreditation
Location and contact information:
Chancellor Park, 4520 Executive Dr 225 Floor 2
San Diego, CA 92121
(866) 318-7721
San Diego Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics
Here are additional statistics about San Diego County drug and alcohol use for people aged 12 and older from the study year:1
Over 24% of San Diego’s residents admit to engaging in binge drinking
Over 15% used at least one illicit drug, including heroin, cocaine, hallucinogens, and prescription opioids (nonmedically)
Over 5% engaged in nonmedical use of prescription opioid painkillers that were not prescribed
Over 11% of all San Diegans admit to using marijuana
There were 532 deaths caused by heroin, alcohol, and other illicit drugs in San Diego County in 2019.2
Resources
- SANDAG – SANDAG Home. (n.d.). SANDAG Home.
- FindTreatment.gov. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (Rev. 2012). Substance Use and Mental Disorders in the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos MSA. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Report: Metro Brief.
- San Diego Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force. (2020). 2020 Report Card.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2021). Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS): 2019. Admissions to and Discharges From Publicly Funded Substance Use Treatment.
- United States Health and Human Services Department. (Dec. 2021). New HHS Study Shows 63-Fold Increase in Medicare Telehealth Utilization During the Pandemic.
- Drug Policy Alliance. (2013). Understanding California’s 911 Good Samaritan Law.
- California Legislative Information. (2021). Bill Text.