Orange County is a popular tourist destination in Southern California and boasts famous cities like Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach, the surf capital of the world. Newport Beach is home to some of the most elegant homes in the world and offers a high quality of life. Nearly three million people call the area home and are located south of Los Angeles, which is the largest city in the state. Whether it’s the beach or Disneyland, there’s something for everyone in Orange County.
With the vast amount of activities in Orange County, it’s challenging to see that the community is dealing with substance addiction. The public health crisis is no stranger to the United States as it’s been affecting us for quite some time. The opioid overdose epidemic has also affected the area, and with its proximity to Mexico, drugs flow through on the way to Los Angeles. Other drugs and alcohol also play a role.
Fortunately, some of the world’s best rehab services are located in Orange County, California, and they serve as essential functions that help lawmakers respond to the addiction crisis. These are here to help you find your way back to sobriety.
Orange County Rehab Statistics
A report released in 2018 known as Substance Use in California: A Look at Addiction and Treatment found that nearly eight percent of the
California population (2.7 million people) met the requirement of having a substance use disorder. The report also stated that six percent of the individuals were dependent on alcohol, and another three percent met the criteria for a dependency on illegal drugs.
That data also gave a closer look at the habits of substance abusers by their age. Those aged 18 to 25 were found to use addictive substances at a higher rate than other age groups in the state. The usage rate for cocaine, prescription drugs, marijuana, alcohol, and heroin was substantially higher in this group.
According to the same report, substance use disorders were the most prevalent in young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, and they occur at nearly twice the state average.
In severe cases, a person will end in the emergency room because of their substance usage. The same report shows that between 2012 and 2014, 303.5 people per 100,000 per year received aid from local emergency departments for nonfatal drug and alcohol-related reasons. In that same time, 30.9 per 100,000 people were treated for opioid-related reasons, much higher than the state average of 28.2.Another report from 2017 titled Drug & Alcohol Morbidity & Mortality in Orange County reviewed the primary causes of substance-related overdoses. The findings were summarized by the Orange County Health Care Agency and go as follows:
- Cities near the coast of Orange County and in the southern regions had a higher rate of drug and alcohol-related hospital stays and deaths than other cities.
- Between 2013 and 2015, an estimated 700 people died, and more than 5,500 were in the hospital because of drug overdoses due to drug and alcohol poisoning each year.
- After review, coroners found that 78.6 percent of deaths were accidental, and more than half involved prescription drugs. An estimated 67 percent were due to opioids.
Most Abused Substances In Orange County, California
Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in Southern California, despite its legal status being changed in 2016. Other common drugs of abuse include heroin, cocaine, prescription pain relievers, and alcohol.
Alcohol was the cause of more nonfatal emergency room visits than all of the other drugs combined, according to Substance Use in California: A Look at Addiction and Treatment.
Orange County’s proximity to Mexico allows traffickers the opportunity to smuggle and distribute illegal drugs throughout the United States. Methamphetamine has been the culprit behind a surge of overdose deaths in recent times. In 2017, ABC 7 LA reported that methamphetamine was the most common drug linked to overdose deaths throughout California.
Methamphetamine has emerged as one of the most deadly drugs throughout the state, and many fear that a meth crisis could occur similar to the opioid crisis the United States faces. Due to its low cost and availability from Mexico, many people get swept into addiction and feel they have no place to turn. Fortunately, however, Orange County has some of the best treatment facilities in the country if you’re struggling with addiction to anything we’ve discussed above.
Orange County’s Drug Rehab History And Rankings
As was mentioned above, Orange County is more than equipped to deal with substance use disorders with their elite services and programs. Orange County has the greatest per population residential detoxification capacity in the state, with 6.9 beds per 10,000 people, which is much higher than California’s average of 3.2 beds per 10,000 people.
In 2015, California launched a five-year Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) to help Medi-Cal grow, reorganize, and improve treatment services for individuals with substance use disorders. California noted that 40 counties participated in the program, but it’s scheduled to conclude in 2020. You can learn more about it here.
Quick Treatment Facts
Treating addiction is a complex process that a person will likely experience for the rest of their lives to abstain from substance use. Addiction is considered a chronic and progressive illness that changes the brain to prioritize substance abuse and will continue to worsen without treatment. Fortunately, modern medicine and therapies are used to correct the condition, and although relapse rates remain high for those in treatment, it has a high level of success.
Evidence-based treatment is tested rigorously and backed by science to provide the most effective results to help someone rebuild their lives. The most useful therapies will address the person as a whole and include their psychological, emotional, social, and physical needs. Without this, treatment will not work.
Once a medical professional is finished assessing the client’s needs, they will recommend placement based on their most current needs. Depending on the drug the person is using, it could mean medical detox to stave off deadly withdrawal symptoms. If you’re looking to enter treatment, make sure the treatment plan encompasses all of your specific needs, as this is the most effective means of leaving treatment and staying sober.
Once you leave treatment, it’s vital to seek aftercare services, such as living in a transitional home, as you start building new habits. Newly founded sobriety is challenging because you’ve lived your life a certain way for so long, but with the right steps, you’ll manage this new life. It’s ok to lean on others for help in your time of need.
