Encino Drug & Alcohol Rehab, Detox & Treatment Resources
Sitting on the northern slope of the Santa Monica Mountains, Encino is part of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. Residents and visitors spend their leisure time enjoying the beautiful, sunny California weather at one of the many parks, golf courses and athletic fields that adorn the valley. For more cultural activities, the district is home to several museums, galleries and theaters.
However, a darker side of this picturesque community exists. The same drug epidemic that has taken over the country over the past two decades is also affecting many of the communities in the San Fernando Valley. Since 2006, the number ofheroindeaths across the state has risen by 67 percent. The crisis is so bad in L.A. County thatlaw enforcementand emergency responders are carrying overdose prevention kits, also known as NARCAN, for treatment of opioid overdoses. You can also find such drugs in Encino drug treatment facilities.
Substance abuse doesn’t have to end in jail or a fatal overdose. Despite the negative stigma that comes with addiction, professionals understand that substance misuse problems can happen to anyone. It is a disease, after all. Much like heart failure, COPD and diabetes, many chronic illnesses are treatable. Los Angeles County officials are working hard to encourage anyone experiencingalcoholand drug addiction to seek help at one of the many substance misuse treatment programs available.
Finding Help in Encino
Encino, California Alcohol Rehab Centers and Drug Centers
Encino is no stranger to the growing drug and alcohol misuse problem in the U.S. Alcohol is legal for those over 21, so there isn’t much authorities can do there, at least unless a crime happens. With prescription painkillers, the situation is a little more complex. New federal, state and local laws aim to improve prescribers’ accountability, keep correct records and increase the penalties for physicians that break the rules, but there’s work to do. Sadly, many people who misuse narcotics start taking the drugs legally to reduce pain, and when their doctor stops supplying a legal prescription, they turn to street versions. The price is often steep, though, and many turn to heroin, which costs less.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, an increase in the painkiller fentanyl on the black market is causing more overdoses and faster rates of addictions. It’s stronger than heroin; a single dose can be deadly. Dealers are also mixing it in with heroin to keep their customers coming back. Luckily, there are many high-quality treatment options for anyone that’s ready to make a positive change in their life.
Residential Treatment Programs
A common choice is residential rehab. These occur in a hospital-type setting and are intense, three- to six-week programs that combine group and individual cognitive and behavior therapy. Patients attend several sessions a day where they talk about their struggles, learn what triggers cravings and establish skills to fight the cravings. Medical professionals in any inpatient drug rehab have the skills to help you achieve sobriety.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
If you aren’t ready to re-enter your home community, a partial hospitalization is a good option to continue in a structured treatment program. Also known as day treatment, patients spend between four and eight hours a day in a facility and then return to their home to eat, sleep, attend school and work, living a drug and alcohol-free life. These treatment programs have a six- to 12-month duration.
Outpatient Treatment Programs
Continuing care is an important part of treating any chronic condition, including addiction. An excellent way to stay on track following release from a rehab facility is to attend an outpatient program. This can occur at the same location as the rehab or in a different center. As a patient, you will work with a clinician to create a flexible treatment plan. This may include group and individual counseling sessions as well as regular check-ins to track your outpatient recovery.
Before choosing a location, learn about each program’s treatment plan and don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s vital to know the type of therapy and the duration of the program, as well as what its aftercare plan looks like. This is an investment in your health and future; don’t rush to decide.
Detox Centers
The first step to sobriety is removingalcoholand drugs from your body. This process can be painful and even dangerous with certain drugs. For opioids, prescription sedatives and heavy or long-term alcohol misuse, medically assisted detoxification is the safest path to recovery. Drug detox centers require patients to spend up to a week in a hospital setting where a professional staff of physicians and nurses watch vitals. They can also prescribe medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms, which decreases the patient’s chances of a relapse.
Recovery Meetings Near Encino
The road to recovery isn’t short or easy. An excellent way to continue your recovery after leaving a treatment facility is to stick with attending regular Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or SMART Recovery meetings. Patients often go to these same meetings during substance misuse rehab. Research supports that when those in recovery attend regular meetings, they reduce the chances of a relapse. Several Encino drug treatment facilities offer these interventions.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Meetings
AA is a non-denominational organization that has been helping men and women fight the demons of alcohol addiction since 1939 through its 12-step program. Meetings occur daily in Encino and in dozens of places in the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County. When choosing a meeting, watch the format codes for more information before you attend. For example, new attendees should consider a beginner’s meeting, which often meets at least 30 minutes earlier than a regular meeting time. If you feel more comfortable with single-gender meetings, look for the designation for men or women only groups.
More Than Waffles
17200 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
17114 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316
Sober Souls
5658 Tampa Ave.
Tarzana, CA 91356
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) offers a safe place for people with drug misuse disorders to meet, talk, learn and find support in their fight to live drug-free. The organization hosts daily meetings at multiple times, around the country and online. They are all free and open to the public. NA also follows a 12-step program. Of no consequence are the type of drugs, duration of use and the reason for the misuse. All that matters is that participants wish to live life without using drugs or alcohol. Meetings focus on how addiction and recovery affect their lives and those around them.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
14646 Sherman Way
Van Nuys, CA 91405
Hole in the Sky
21044 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, CA 91303
Freewheelers Gratitude
18300 Roscoe Blvd.
Northridge, CA 91325
SMART Recovery Meetings
Just as one treatment approach may work for one person in recovery but not another, AA and NA don’t work for everyone. There’s another choice that doesn’t have the long history of the well-known fellowships but has an excellent success rate helping people overcome addictive behaviors. Self-Management and Recovery Training(SMART Recovery) uses a four-point program that uses a scientific approach that encourages the power of self-reliance to stay motivated on your path to recovery, using education and strength from within to avoid triggers and deny urges that can lead to a relapse. The foundation sponsors meetings around the world, while hosting daily meetings online, managing a message board and offering 24/7 chat rooms for more support.
Encino Community Center
4935 Balboa Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 91316
Phoenix House
11600 Eldridge Ave.
Lake View Terrace, CA 91342
Clear Skies Ranch-Stagg House
19825 Stagg St.
Winnetka, CA 91306
Al-Anon and Nar-Anon Meetings
If a loved one is suffering from a substance misuse problem, you are not alone. A 2016 Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll found that more than four in ten Americans personally know someone who has or is still struggling with prescription painkiller addiction. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are safe organizations that help friends and family members of people who are still struggling with addiction or taking steps to cut drugs and alcohol from their lives. These groups sponsor judgment-free meetings around the country where you can talk, learn and heal.
Al-Anon
Radford Hall
13627 1/2 Victory Blvd.
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Nar-Anon
CRI-Help
11027 Burbank Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601