Long Beach
Outpatient Rehab

Drug Abuse in Long Beach

Long Beach is a city at the southernmost point of Los Angeles County, approximately 20 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles. The 7th most populous city in California, Long Beach is also recognized as being part of the Gateway Cities region — an area so-named because it bridges the gap between Los Angeles County and Orange County. Long Beach is also notable for being nestled against the Pacific Ocean. This coastal city is known for its thriving beach culture and urban landscape. Frequented by surfers, Long Beach’s beautiful beaches, marinas, and waterfront activities, and Mediterranean climate have made it famous worldwide. Long Beach contains countless attractions, including the Aquarium of the Pacific, Southern California’s largest aquarium. The city is also known for being a major industry hub. Despite the city’s reputation for relaxing vibes and surf culture, the aerospace industry plays an important role, and Boeing is the top private employer in the city. With an estimated population of 462,628, Long Beach is also incredibly diverse, with the majority of its residents reporting their ethnicity as non-white. This eclectic city is in many ways a coastal paradise.

While Long Beach thrives economically and attracts fun-loving visitors from all over the world, the unfortunate truth is that a significant portion of the population suffers from drug and alcohol addiction. The city has historically struggled with crime. While Long Beach’s criminal and drug cultures have been entertainingly celebrated by the likes of Snoop Dogg and other West Coast rappers, the actual experiences of residents in Long Beach is often much more dire than the glamourization suggests. Drug cartels from Mexico frequently send distributors up to Long Beach, which is only a short drive from the border. Opioids are a particular concern, with rapidly increasing amounts of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids currently devastating Long Beach neighborhoods. While law enforcement agencies in Long Beach spend significant money, time, and resources to curtail the distribution of drugs in the city, poverty and addiction continue to drive demand for illicit substances up. Individuals in Long Beach who suffer from drug addiction can end up destitute, homeless, or can die from a life-threatening overdose. It is essential that this population have access to quality substance abuse treatment programs.

Fortunately, Long Beach is also home to a wide variety of quality addiction resource centers and treatment programs. These programs work to help Long Beach residents withdraw from alcohol and other recreational drugs. More importantly, they help residents avoid relapse in the future by giving them the tools they need to maintain their sobriety. Ultimately, for someone beginning a treatment program, the end goal is a complete overhaul of their way of living. Recovery from substance use disorders presents more than an opportunity to become physically abstinent. It offers individuals a new, freer, and more prosperous way of living. However, before entering one of Long Beach’s quality treatment programs, it is essential that individuals educate themselves on the nature of the treatment centers that are available in the city.

Alcohol and Drug Outpatient Rehab Centers in Long Beach

Addiction is, by its very nature, difficult if not impossible to manage without outside help. Patterns of drug and alcohol abuse actually cause permanent changes on the neurological level in addicts’ brains, making it difficult to follow through on even the most earnest and heartfelt decisions to quit abusing substances. Unfortunately, cultural stigmas surrounding addiction lead many people to think that reaching out for help is a sign of weakness. Some individuals may even believe that addiction is not a real condition, or that ending patterns of substance abuse is merely a matter of exerting more willpower or self-control. These outdated stereotypes are a significant impediment to people’s health and chances of recovery. Addiction, which is known by medical professionals as substance use disorder, is a very real medical condition that requires treatment.

Outpatient centers are highly recommended for anyone who is suffering from a substance use disorder and is looking to build a new life for themself in sobriety. Outpatient treatment centers are non-residential flexible programs that allow individuals to attend treatment programs for a portion of the day while continuing to reside at home. They thereby offer individuals a means of staying active in their outside lives or working to build new lives while simultaneously pursuing addiction treatment. Outpatient treatment centers help people recover from addictions by encouraging self-reflection, helping people develop new cognitive and behavioral tools, helping them develop social support systems, and sometimes even offering medication. Using a wide variety of treatment modalities, outpatient treatment centers are designed to help patients develop a program of recovery that they can take forward with them into the years to come.

However, a wide variety of outpatient treatment programs exist to meet the demands of different people. Outpatient programs offer different services and levels of care to reflect the fact that addiction is a spectrum disorder that manifests itself in unique ways. Deciding which type of outpatient treatment center is right for you involves assessing the severity of your addiction and other personal circumstances. An individual whose life has been severely diminished by their addiction might require a more intensive program, whereas a more functional person might desire a program that offers less intrusive forms of support. It should also be noted that people’s needs change dramatically as the progress on their recovery journeys. Many begin in intensive programs but ultimately graduate to more flexible ones. While the nature of a person’s outpatient treatment program may change over time, it is of the utmost importance that they stay committed to the process. Remaining involved in a treatment program consistently for longer periods of time is highly correlated with lower rates of relapse. Addiction is not a curable condition and, while it can be successfully put into remission, doing so requires a long-term plan for managing it.

Deciding which treatment program is right for you requires a basic understanding of the main types of outpatient treatment centers.

Long Beach PHP

Long Beach’s partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are mostly held in clinics and hospitals along the coast. These programs are highly structured and intense in nature, requiring individuals to commit to attending their treatment program every day of the week. Since PHPs are conducted in clinical settings, individuals enrolled in these programs benefit from access to medical care. As such, PHPs are highly recommended for people who are suffering from painful or dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Detoxing from certain drugs, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, can be life-threatening without medical supervision. Individuals withdrawing from opioids often benefit from medication-assisted therapy, which can involve prescribing drugs such as Suboxone. Partial hospitalization programs offer support for people who may be struggling to function at all in their day-to-day lives as a consequence of drug or alcohol addiction. Long Beach’s high quality partial hospitalization programs offer these individuals a a new start.

Long Beach IOP

Intensive outpatient programs in Long Beach offer programs geared toward individuals who are struggling to handle the pressures of their substance use disorder. These individuals may have reached a point where their addictive behaviors are jeopardizing their health or safety. IOP programs, as they are sometimes known, offer a variety of treatment modalities ranging from cognitive-behavioral therapy to support groups. In Long Beach’s IOP programs, individuals with highly developed substance use disorders can develop new skills, build their social support systems, and begin taking steps toward long-term sobriety.

Long Beach OP

Outpatient programs in Long Beach, which are sometimes known as OPs, offer a level of care one step below IOPs. These programs are ideal for individuals who have plenty of commitments in life, either at work, at school, or with their families. Requiring only a few hours each day, outpatient programs are ideal for people who are managing to function but nonetheless require addiction treatment. They are also often recommended to people who are graduating from other, more intensive addiction treatment programs. Long Beach’s quality outpatient programs can allow people in addiction treatment to receive support as they transition back to the real world.

Long Beach Aftercare

Aftercare programs are essentially long-term treatment plans for the weeks, months, and years after graduating from a formal addiction treatment program. Addiction is never permanently cured, no matter how high the quality of care a person receives from an outpatient program. It is necessary that they continue to manage their disorder on a daily basis. At any of Long Beach’s quality outpatient programs, case workers will help recent graduates develop an aftercare plan that meets their unique needs. These plans often incorporate a range of treatment approaches, including psychotherapy, support groups, and 12-step programs.

Recovery Meetings and Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA, is a 12-step program designed to help people suffering from alcohol use disorder. Its program involves following the 12 steps, which are designed to help people build a relationship with a higher power, curb their obsession with alcohol, and discover the joy of sober living. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings allow members to share their experiences with others who understand their plight. Meetings are free to attend and have no requirements for admittance, aside from a desire to stop drinking. Some recommended AA meetings in Long Beach can be found below:
  • Belmont Shore Chalet – 5107 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803
  • Atlantic Alano Club – 600 Redondo Ave, Long Beach, CA 90814
  • Intercity Fellowship Hall – 5881 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805

Cocaine Anonymous

Cocaine Anonymous, often shortened to AA, is a 12-step program for cocaine addiction modeled on the same principles as AA. Cocaine addicts can come together at CA meetings to share their experiences of addiction, receive support, and discover solutions for the challenges of newfound sobriety. Members are advised to follow the 12 steps, which are designed to help alleviate the obsession with cocaine. Newer members also frequently work with sponsors, who are more experienced members of the program. Sponsors help newer members by guiding them along the 12 steps and providing emotional support. CA meetings are free and the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop abusing cocaine. Some recommended CA meetings in the Long Beach are can be found below:
  • CA World Services – 304 – 21720 S. Wilmington Ave, Long Beach, CA 90810
  • 2 Be Free – 759 Linden Ave, Long Beach, California, 90813
  • Crackheads on a Mission – 905 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813

Narcotics Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous, or NA, is a 12-step program that is geared toward helping people with drug addiction generally. It is often the suggested support group for individuals dealing with opioid addiction. NA is the second largest 12-step program after AA by member count. Members follow the 12 steps of NA, which are designed to help them develop a relationship with a higher power and relieve their obsession with drugs. NA meetings are sources of companionship, moral support, and guidance for individuals who are new to sobriety, but many people continue to experience the benefits decades into sobriety. The program is cost-free, and the only requirement for membership is a desire to stay off of drugs. A few recommended NA meetings in Long Beach can be found below:
  • Addicts R Us – 439 W. Anaheim St., Long Beach, California 90813
  • Freedom Group Discussion – 441 East 1st St., Long Beach, California 90802
  • Cherry Ave Group Discussion – 5881 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, California 90805

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery is a secular program that uses the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy to help people recover from substance use disorders. The program, which is available online, helps members develop the tools they need to manage their emotions, cravings, and unhealthy patterns of behavior. SMART Recovery also holds in-person meetings in the Long Beach area. Some recommended face-to-face SMART Recovery meetings in Long Beach are listed below:
  • RLS Church – 330 Palos Verdes Blvd., Redondo Beach, California 90277
  • Redondo Beach Group – 205 Avenue I, Suite 21, Redondo Beach, California 90277
  • Manhattan Beach Group – 1230 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 300, Manhattan Beach, CA

Al-Anon

Loved ones of addicts often experience pain, trauma, and conflict. As such, people who are in relationships with addicts often require assistance as much as addicts themselves. Al-Anon is a 12-step program that was formed shortly after AA to meet the needs of spouses, but it is now open to anyone who has suffered from loving an addict. Al-Anon’s 12-step program helps loved ones let go of their desire to “fix” or control their addicted friend or family member. At Al-Anon meetings, individuals who are united in their shared experience of loving an addict can come together to receive support and guidance. Some recommended Al-Anon meetings in the Long Beach area are listed below:
  • Belmont Shore Chalet – 5107 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA, 90803, USA
  • Bayshore Church – 5100 E the Toledo, Long Beach, CA, 90803, USA
  • Unitarian Universalist Church – 5450 E Atherton St, Long Beach, CA, 90815, USA

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Create Recovery Center

It can be difficult to decide which outpatient treatment program to attend. Part of the difficulty lies in assessing what your needs are. These needs are also likely to change dramatically in the initial weeks and months of addiction recovery. As such, it is essential to choose an outpatient program that is capable of addressing a variety of needs and circumstances, from interpersonal conflicts to comorbid mental health conditions. Doing so provides a person with the best chances of long-term sobriety.

Create Recovery, located in nearby West Los Angeles, offers a range of outpatient treatment programs. Our programs include PHPs, IOPs, OPs, and aftercare planning. Our 12-step based treatment programs offer a wide variety of treatment modalities, including psychotherapy, support groups, behavioral health interventions, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Whether you’re just beginning a difficult detox or looking to rebuild your life after being sober for a while, Create Recovery Center offers solutions and support to people no matter where they are on their recovery journey.

Our holistic programs are based on the idea that recovery from a substance use disorder involves treating the whole individual, not just their condition. After an initial evaluation and assessment, we work to build an individualized treatment plan that comprehensively addresses all of a person’s needs. This can mean improving broken relationships with family members or getting an untreated mental health disorder diagnosed. No person suffers from addiction in the same way, and our programs recognize that successful recovery outcomes are dependent on addressing all aspects of a person’s addiction.

No matter where you are on your journey to recovery, Create Recovery Center is here for you. In our programs, you will work to develop a stronger understanding of the underlying reasons behind your addiction. You will develop the skills and tools you need to avoid relapse. You will begin picking up the pieces of your life. Moreover, you can do all of this in the company of other like-minded people who suffer from the same condition and are motivated to recover. There is no need to pursue sobriety alone or to lose hope. Reach out to Create Recovery Center today. We’re happy to discuss your unique situation, develop a treatment plan that meets your needs, and help you build a new life for yourself.