Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics in West Covina, CA
Sadly, West Covina and Los Angeles County have seen drug and alcohol problems grow each year. For instance:3
Rehab admissions for meth rose 39% between 2018 and 2020, marking the 11th straight year of an increase in meth rehab admissions in the county.
Meth was at its lowest street value in 2020, possibly spurring the rise in meth-related overdoses and rehab admissions.
40% of Los Angeles County toxicology reports showed the presence of meth in 2020.
There were 34,534 rehab admissions in the county in 2019.
L.A. heroin rehab admissions dropped 25% between 2018 and 2020, but heroin was the cause of 21% of all admissions in 2020.
Fentanyl, a relatively new drug in West Covina labeled a narcotic analgesic, caused 16.4% of overdoses in 2019, 9.8% more than in 2018.
Paying for Alcohol and Drug Rehab in West Covina, CA
There are multiple places to turn to for help accessing alcohol or drug rehab in West Covina. For example, nearby La Cada offers low-cost outpatient treatment services, including counseling and residential treatment programs. Other organizations include the River Community Day Treatment offers day treatment and accepts most private insurance companies as well as partners with federal and local agencies for funding to offer low-cost programs and financial assistance programs.
Private Insurance
Private health insurance companies, such as Cigna, Beacon, and Anthem Health Care, must pay for substance abuse treatment if they pay for similar services, such as therapy and medication for other disorders. Every insurance company has its policies and fee schedules. Speak with your insurance provider to find out exactly what services can be covered and what your fees would be, and to get referrals to local in-network drug and alcohol rehabs.
Medicare and Medicaid for Drug Rehab
Medicaid and Medicare are federal health insurance policies that are made to help get health care for people who don’t qualify for or can’t afford traditional insurance. You qualify by having a low income, being a minor, your family composition, and other factors. If approved for Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, you could get the total cost of rehab covered, though Medicaid doesn’t pay for residential care.
Medicare is also a state-funded program, but you qualify regardless of income, instead based on your age and health status. Medicare has a series of plans that you could use, parts A-D and the Medicare Advantage plan. You can speak with a Medicare advocate or a social worker to learn more about Medicare and apply. This program isn’t free, it comes with deductibles and copayments, but it does cover the cost of residential rehab.
Many rehab centers in CA, for example, Aegis Treatment Centers, accept Medicare and Medicaid for their services, which include general outpatient treatment and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). To apply for either program, reach out to your town’s social services office, or call 211 to speak with someone who can help you apply.
Local Information: West Covina, CA
Transportation
West Covina is on the outskirts of the city of Los Angeles and is fairly easy to access. The nearest airport is the Ontario/San Bernardino Airport (ONT) is about twenty miles away. You can drive to West Covina, taking the 10 highway that runs east to west through the center of town, or the 605, which runs north to south.
Local transportation provides many ways to get around with the Foothill Transit System. There are 38 associated bus lines, which run daily. You can also use West Covina’s Dial-A-Ride system. The West Covina Shuttle also provides service within the city from various hotspots around town, such as the West Covina Civic Center and the Eastland Shopping Center.
Lodging
If you’re looking to visit the city, you’ll find plenty of affordable temporary lodgings, such as the Best Western, the Holiday Inn, and a Travelodge. You can take care of all your daily life needs from the city, which boasts two libraries and three post office locations. West Covina also has plenty of fun to be had for residents and visitors, such as:
- Visiting downtown Covina’s 42-acre Galster Wilderness Park, supposedly haunted and home to native flora and fauna such as the Rhus integrifolia tree, bearing the delicious lemonade berry.
- Shopping at Plaza West Covina, with over 185 different retail outfits and places to dine
- Taking in some local history at the Glendora History Societal Museum, 15 miles minutes outside of the city.
- Sightseeing at Santa Catalina Island, where you can also learn about the Spanish and Mediterranean pirates that visited over 125 years ago.
- Have fun in the sun at Raging Waters, a waterpark chain with three locations in Los Angeles County.
- Catch a game at the West Covina Sportsplex, which gives public access (for a low fee) to baseball, softball, soccer, and playground facilities.
Resources
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). CDC Wonder Tool.
- NDEWS National Drug Early Warning System. (August 2020). Los Angeles County Sentinel Community Site (SCS) Drug Use Patterns and Trends, 2020.
- California State Legislative Analyst’s Office. (2000). Proposition 36. Drug Treatment Diversion Program. Initiative Statute.