San Francisco, CA Drug Treatment and Alcohol Rehab Information

 
San Francisco, California, has one of the biggest income disparities among its residents in the entire United States.[1] The economy is recovering and even experiencing growth in the city; however, rent prices are rising and forcing people out.

Ranked the fourth largest city in California in 2014, San Francisco has long been known for its rampant drug culture and high crime rates, which may at least partially have to do with the disparities among its diverse population.[2] In looking at statistics of drug abuse for the San Francisco metropolitan area, which includes the counties of San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo, the percent of residents abusing illicit drugs in the past month was higher at 11.9 percent than the state average of 9.3 percent for the years 2006-2008.[3] The percentage of residents with dependence on alcohol and/or drugs during that same time was the same as the rest of California at 9.4 percent of the population.[4]

 

Local Substance Abuse Trends

Drug abuse trends can be identified by looking at local substance abuse treatment admissions and determining the primary drug of abuse, and by looking at overdose and emergency department (ED) visit statistics and determining which drugs were involved in the most cases.

In San Francisco County, substance abuse treatment admissions for the fiscal year (FY) 2012-2013 were as follows:

  1. Alcohol: 2,531 treatment admissions
  2. Heroin: 1,925 treatment admissions
  3. Cocaine: 1,510 treatment admissions
  4. Methamphetamine: 1,380 treatment admissions
  5. Marijuana: 594 treatment admissions[5]


Treatment admissions showed definite trends in drug abuse patterns in San Francisco from years past. Alcohol rates remained fairly stable, showing slight decreases from FY 2011-2012 to FY 2012-2013. Males over age 35 were commonly admitted to treatment for alcohol abuse issues.[6] Heroin treatment admissions rose some in FY 2012-2013 to jump ahead of cocaine treatment admissions in San Francisco, which dropped a little from FY 2011-2012. Methamphetamine abuse seems to be rising in San Francisco, as treatment admissions and people receiving treatment for meth abuse and/or dependence continue to increase from year to year.[7] Marijuana treatment admissions also increased by about 100 individuals from FY 2011-2012 to FY 2012-2013.[8]

In 2010, there were 171 deaths attributed to drugs in San Francisco County and 318 in total in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont metropolitan area.[9] Most of these deaths involved more than one drug or substance, and the top five substances, in order, were:  opioids, alcohol, cocaine, stimulants, and benzodiazepines.[10] A drug overdose is when the levels of substance in the blood exceed what the body can handle, and it is a risk factor of drug abuse.

Many San Francisco residents also sought emergency department (ED) treatment for a negative reaction to drugs or alcohol in 2011, which are highlighted here:

  • Alcohol ED visits were 328.3 per 100,000 population, which was higher than the national rate of 134.6 per 100,000.
  • Methamphetamine ED rates in San Francisco were significantly above national averages of 33 per 100,000 at 139.5 per 100,000.
  • Heroin ED visits were lower in SF than the rest of the nation at 40.7 per 100,000 versus 83 per 100,000.
  • ED visit rates for synthetic cannabinoids across the nation were at 9.2 per 100,000, and rates are much lower in San Francisco, although a recent surge of DUIs and criminal justice cases involving a synthetic cannabimimetic XLR-11 have been reported in the county.[11]

 

Drug Availability

Drug abuse trends typically follow trends in drug availability and price on the streets, which may be affected by drug seizures and law enforcement efforts as well as legislative and other preventative measures. Drug availability and therefore respondent trends in usage may also be measured by analyzing drug reports made to local Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Forensic Laboratory Information Systems (NFLIS).

In San Francisco for the FY 2012-2013, the following trends were observed from data from the San Francisco NFLIS lab reports:

  1. Methamphetamine: 39 percent of drugs analyzed, up from 33.5 percent
  2. Marijuana: 18.5 percent of drugs analyzed
  3. Cocaine: dropped from 16.7 percent to 14.3 percent of drugs analyzed
  4. Heroin: up to 6.5 percent of drugs analyzed from 5.5 percent
  5. Hydrocodone: 3.5 percent of drugs analyzed and declining
  6. Oxycodone: 2.7 percent of drugs analyzed
  7. Methadone: 1.1 percent of drugs analyzed
  8. Morphine: 1 percent of drugs analyzed
  9. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): 1 percent of drugs analyzed
  10. Alprazolam: represented 0.8 percent of drugs analyzed[12]


When taken together, hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, morphine, and alprazolam made up 9.1 percent of all the drugs analyzed by NFLIS labs in 2013.[13] Different drugs may be more prevalent in some areas than others. For example, methamphetamine is reported by NFLIS lab analyses less than half as much in United States overall as it is in San Francisco, while marijuana is reported in the United States almost twice as much as it is in San Francisco.[14]

Meth seems to be readily available in Northern California, as it may be made in illicit labs and also smuggled up from Mexico. Meth trafficking and abuse are considered primary health concerns and drug threats in the area by the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).[15]

 

Drugs, Mental Health, and the Community

San Francisco has a notoriously high crime rate, with a rate of 853 per every 100,000 people, which is above the state average of 520 per 100,000 and more than eight times the national benchmark of 100 per 100,000.[16] Some types of crimes may even be rising; property and violent crime rates rose 20 percent between 2011 and 2012.[17] Part of this may be attributed to the extreme differences in income levels: 5 percent of the city makes over $350,000 a year while 23 percent live in poverty.[18] Many crimes that are committed are related to or involve drugs, and in 2008, close to 8 percent of all people arrested in San Francisco were arrested for drug-related crimes.[19] This does not include all crimes that may have been committed while taking drugs or in an effort to get money to buy drugs.

Drug abuse prevention methods and programs, and subsequently crime prevention programs, are run by numerous community organizations in San Francisco. There is a list of local community substance abuse services on the San Francisco Department of Health website.[20]

Infectious diseases are also potential side effects of drug abuse, particularly of injection drug abuse. San Francisco has seen epidemic rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) within the city in the past, which is spread through bodily fluids, sexual contact, and the sharing of contaminated needles. AIDS rates have dropped in recent years, although 18 percent of cases in 2013 were still considered to be transmitted by drug-related causes.[21]

Drug abuse may also exacerbate mental illness side effects, and those battling mental illness may use drugs or alcohol as a method of self-medication to alleviate symptoms. In San Francisco, 3.5 percent of the adult population in 2009 was classified as having a serious mental illness.[22] When substance abuse and mental illness co-occur, it is considered a dual diagnosis, and specialized integrated care is generally recommended.

 

Getting Help

Treatment for substance abuse and/or mental health comes in many forms. Aside from community outreach, prevention, and educational programs, recovery services may be found at a variety of locations and settings. Treatment for substance abuse may begin with detox, or medical detox, which is performed either in an inpatient or outpatient setting. It may include the use of pharmaceuticals to manage withdrawal symptoms and contain drug cravings. Medical detox is always recommended for withdrawal from opiates, benzodiazepines, and alcohol.

Beyond detox, rehab and recovery programs may be facilitated onsite in a residential treatment center or in an outpatient manner when a strong support system exists at home. Rehab and recovery programs for both mental illness and substance abuse may include group and individual therapy, counseling, homework sessions, nutrition services, and potentially holistic methods. Support groups and 12-Step programs as well as community outreach programs may support long-term recovery as well.

The San Francisco Department of Health keeps a list of contracted substance abuse providers on its website, which serves both the city and county of San Francisco.[23] Providers may be public, open to everyone needing treatment and often offered for free or at a low cost to eligible people, or private, which may provide more comprehensive and individual care.

Show the average American a snapshot of a red bridge spanning across a river that has been kissed by fog and that person will immediately begin thinking about San Francisco. It is a simply iconic city in California that has a special place in the hearts of many different people, even when those people do not live within the city’s limits.

San Francisco has a lot to offer all sorts of people, including people who have addictions. In fact, there are a number of addiction treatment facilities in this city by the bay that could help people struggling with drug or alcohol problems. These are the top 10 treatment options available in the area.

  1. Foundations Recovery Network San Francisco: People who can benefit from addiction treatment do not always reach out for help. The treatment providers of the Foundations Recovery Network have developed a successful model that can break through denial and bring about real change, and the team has brought those therapies to San Francisco with this outpatient clinic. Here, people who have addictions and/or mental illnesses can get holistic care for addictions. Individual and group therapy is provided, along with yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and massage. The counselors and therapists who deliver care try to meet people “where they are” in recovery and deliver treatments that are customized and personalized. The facility operates on a 12-Step-optional basis, providing people who enroll with even more control. There are special programs for people in the LGBTQ community. Medication management is available.

  2. BAART Programs: This is a very large addiction treatment provider with offices all across California. Every outpost has different rules and regulations regarding payments, insurance benefits, and hours. But they all provide two key services for people with addictions: medication management and counseling. The medications help to soothe chemical imbalances caused by addictions, and they can calm a tense mind, so it is easier to focus on recovery. The counseling helps people to understand how the addiction developed and what must be done to stop it. Care is provided on an outpatient basis only.

  3. Reflections Luxury Rehab: The founders of this addiction treatment facility believe that a peaceful and comfortable environment is absolutely crucial, in terms of delivering addiction support. As a result, the team set up operations in an absolutely gorgeous addiction treatment center in San Francisco. Each destination villa is beautifully decorated, and the grounds are lush and perfectly maintained. The facilities provide people with the comforts of home, without the drama that fills homes touched by addiction. This care is appropriate for anyone who is accustomed to the finer things in life, and there are separate tracks for people who work in executive positions. These people need addiction support that addresses the stress and pressure of corporate life. They can get that help here. The treatment team has experience in addressing addictions complicated by mental illness, and the therapy is designed to be supportive, instructive, and encouraging. There are outpatient services for those who wish to live at home while healing. Insurance plan payments are accepted.

  4. The Center for Harm Reduction Therapy: Addictions spring from underlying issues, and often, those issues involve mental illness. The therapy team of this organization uses innovative therapy approaches to address the mental health problems that can cause an addiction to appear. That approach allows the team to address an addiction issue that is happening now, along with the issues that might make the addiction recur in the future. A therapist and a person with an addiction work in close collaboration in this model, and the care takes place on an outpatient basis. Those who want to quit altogether may benefit from this help, but there are also services available for those who want to cut back without quitting.

  5. The Stonewall Project: This program is devoted to helping men in the gay community with the mental health and physical health issues they face. The team that operates this organization does not judge or cast blame. Instead, the team attempts to understand the individual problems clients face, and the team hopes to help each man live the healthiest life he can live. The team offers group therapy sessions on all sorts of issues, including addiction. There are special projects, including the speed project, that are designed for men who use. Some of these programs aim to help men get sober, but others hope to help men use without putting their health at risk. There are private counseling services available too.

  6. St. Anthony’s: Homelessness and addictions often go together. People impacted by both problems often need help with both issues at the same time in order to achieve recovery that will last. This organization provides a no-fee residential recovery program to men who are homeless and ready to live a different kind of life. Men who enroll volunteer within the larger organization, and they take classes that can help them to get good jobs. They also participate in addiction counseling and support group work. They emerge with work skills, life skills, and a willingness to live in a different way in the future. Aftercare services can help make those lessons stick. Men who wish to enroll must provide proof of eligibility.

  7. Ohlhoff Recovery Programs: This organization aims to help people take charge of their own recovery process, so they can leave addictive damage behind and pull together a rewarding and new life. The team can offer assessment of addiction and mental health issues, and if they are found, they can get care for both issues. Men can choose from inpatient or outpatient programs, while women have gender-specific outpatient programs or general outpatient programs to choose from. Every person who enrolls is provided with both individual and group counseling, enhanced by education classes, family therapy, relapse planning, and discharge planning. There are programs made just for adolescents too. Insurance plan payments are accepted.

  8. Mission Council on Alcohol Abuse for the Spanish Speaking: Since 1978, this organization has provided services for people struggling with all sorts of substance abuse issues. There are outpatient programs and day treatment programs available, and the team can work with community providers if people need more intensive levels of care. The team can provide general counseling and education about addiction, and the team can also provide mental health services for people who have mental illnesses in addition to addiction. There are also specialized programs for people who need to meet specific legal requirements due to an arrest or other addiction-related legal action.

  9. Community Awareness and Treatment Services: Homelessness is the major focus of this organization. The team hopes to assist people in desperate need with all of the services they might require in order to stop living on the streets. Services available include shelter and housing options, but the group also provides a robust addiction recovery program. There are medical detox services, women’s addiction services, men’s addiction services, and seniors’ addiction services available. Space is limited, but people are not turned away due to an inability to pay. Those who are enrolled are provided with a continuum of care that allows them to achieve sobriety, get help that could prolong sobriety, and live a safe and protected life as they heal.

  10. Bayside Marin: This organization provides an exclusive outpatient addiction program for people with addictions to drugs, alcohol, or both. The ideal enrollee is new to addiction or has completed inpatient care and still needs ongoing support. There are two different schedules to choose from: One starts in the morning, and one starts in the evening. Both offer a great deal of personal counseling, group work, and alternative therapies, such as yoga, steam sessions, and acupuncture. Self-help group work is expected. Those who complete the program can participate in ongoing alumni activities, so they retain a connection with the recovery community. Insurance plan payments are accepted. To find out more, call (888) 484-1042.

San Francisco may not have as many treatment options as other parts of California, but clearly, people who have addictions have plenty of facilities to choose from. With this wide variety, it is likely that there is a program out there that could be just right for someone in need. A quick phone call and a schedule for intake can allow individuals to take advantage of the help a treatment program has to offer. Most centers have representatives available around the clock to help. Families can start that conversation today.

 
[1] Gelghorn, A. Ph.D. (June 2014). “Drug Abuse Patterns and Trends in the San Francisco Bay Area- Update June 2014.” Community Epidemiology Work Group. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[2] Ibid.

[3] (July 2012). “Community Health Assessment: City and County of San Francisco.” San Francisco Department of Health. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Gelghorn, A. Ph.D. (June 2014). “Drug Abuse Patterns and Trends in the San Francisco Bay Area- Update June 2014.” Community Epidemiology Work Group. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] (May 2012). “Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), 2010:  Area Profiles of Drug-Related Mortality.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Gelghorn, A. Ph.D. (Feb. 2014). “Drug Abuse Patterns and Trends in the San Francisco Bay Area- Update:  January 2014.” National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Accessed September 30, 2015.

[12] Gelghorn, A. Ph.D. (June 2014). “Drug Abuse Patterns and Trends in the San Francisco Bay Area- Update June 2014.” Community Epidemiology Work Group. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

[15] (Sept. 2011). “Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Drug Market Analysis 2011.” U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC). Accessed September 30, 2015.

[16] (July 2012). “Community Health Assessment: City and County of San Francisco.” San Francisco Department of Health. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[17] Lin II, R., Schleuss, J. “San Francisco See Sharp Rise in Property and Violent Crimes.” Los Angeles (LA) Times. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[18] Ibid.

[19] (2010). “Indicators of Alcohol and Other Drug Risk and Consequences for California Counties. San Francisco County 2010.” Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS). Accessed September 30, 2015.

[20] (n.d.). “Substance Abuse Services.” San Francisco Department of Public Health. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[21] Gelghorn, A. Ph.D. (June 2014). “Drug Abuse Patterns and Trends in the San Francisco Bay Area- Update June 2014.” Community Epidemiology Work Group. Accessed September 30, 2015.

[22] (July 2013). “Mapping the Gaps. Mental Health in California.” California Health Care Foundation (CHCF). Accessed September 30, 2015.

[23] (2004). “Addiction Research and Treatment (a.k.a. BAART).” San Francisco Department of Health. Accessed September 30, 2015.