Substance Abuse and Addiction Treatment Resources in Canoga Park

Canoga Park is a Los Angeles neighborhood that sits in California’s San Fernando Valley. Residents of the busy city enjoy a variety of outdoor recreational activities year-round, such as biking, fishing or just relaxing in one of the area’s many parks, hiking the nearby Santa Monica Mountains or traveling the 20 miles to play in the ocean. On the rare rainy day, there is still plenty to do like visiting one of several museums, art galleries and theaters.

But, the residents of Canoga Park have a darker activity that’s been making its way through the city for several years: alcohol and drug addiction. While law enforcement can’t stop people from abusing alcohol, they can reduce the number of illegal drugs available. Officials hoped that fewer drugs on the street would help people fighting addiction. Instead, the hard crackdown may have left many too afraid to seek help.

You don’t need to be afraid to admit you are dependent on drugs or alcohol. Addiction is a complex disease that can strike anyone at any point in their lives. With the right treatment, you can end the control drugs and alcohol have on your life.

In the city of Los Angeles, Canoga Park is dealing with the consequences of prescription drug misuse. According to a memo issued by the County of Los Angeles Public Health Department in August 2016, Americans ages 14 and older are more likely to form a dependence on opioids, sedatives and stimulants. The legality and widespread availability of these drugs complicates the problem for law enforcement, medical professionals and lawmakers trying to reduce addiction.

Although they are useful for reducing pain, synthetic opioids like oxycodone are highly addictive. Patients taking them for just a few weeks can experience cravings and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. People may then turn to heroin as a substitute for their painkiller addiction. Heroin is unpredictable because it’s often mixed with other, cheaper opioids such as fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times stronger than other synthetic opioids and heroin. This deadly combination sends many users to the hospital. You don’t have to overdose to get help for addiction.

There are two types of residential care, short-term, intense programs in a hospital with 24-hour supervision and long-term facilities, which resemble more of a community setting. The most common types are short, three to six-week hospitalizations that combine cognitive behavioral therapy in groups and private sessions with sobriety meetings. After completing an inpatient drug rehab, most patients continue care at day treatment or outpatient facilities.

For an extra layer of support, you can transition to a partial hospitalization program after leaving a residential rehab center. These give you more structure and help than an outpatient alcohol rehab program, while still providing more freedom than an inpatient facility. Here you attend a few recovery meetings each day and return to your home community at night.

Admitting that you need help is hard. Addiction is too often associated with shame. But, it’s not a moral failing or weakness. It’s a disease that can get better with the right treatment. People who are dependent on drugs and alcohol need a minimum of three months to reduce the chances of a relapse. If you’re unsure, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are making a decision that can change the rest of your life.

Detoxification is often the first step in any drug or alcohol rehabilitation program. This is the process of removing all the toxins from your body so you can begin treatment with a clear head. It’s only necessary for substances or levels of misuse that create uncomfortable and often very painful withdrawal systems. Medically assisted treatment (MAT) is also recommended for detox from prescription sleep aids and amphetamines like ADD and ADHD medications and substantial or long-term alcohol misuse.

Patients who begin with MAT can reduce their recovery time and lower their chances of a relapse. Drug detox centers offer all the services of a hospital. From the time you begin detox until it’s complete, a full medical staff observes your withdrawal and a physician can prescribe medications to reduce and even eliminate the symptoms.

Attending regular sobriety meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous can offer you a support system to reduce the chances of a relapse.

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