CA Alcohol And Drug Addiction & Abuse Hotlines Number

California has a long history of telephone hotlines. In fact, the first hotline in the US was set up in San Francisco in 1959. It was a San Francisco Suicide Prevention helpline that was founded by British Anglican priest, Bernard Mayes, who also worked for the BBC. Hotlines already existed in Britain, and when Mayes came to a parish near San Francisco, the “suicide capital of America”, he brought hotlines to the US with him. This soon became the template which spread all around the country.1

Encouraged by the success, the city and county of San Francisco started funding Mayes’ operation. Then, in 1976, the drug and alcohol version of hotline saw the light of day. In the following years, people who were burdened by discrimination and other types of problems, including LGBTQ+ community, individuals with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic and sexual abuse, people with mental health conditions and substance use issues soon got their own helplines. Very soon, CA addiction hotlines became a valuable tool in the fight against all types of addiction.2

Hotlines provide people with an opportunity to get informed about problems they face without the need to disclose their identity, get questioned by the police, or even show their face inside a doctor’s office. In addition to being operative 24/7, one of the biggest advantages of hotlines lies in the fact that they are confidential. This provides people with an opportunity to open up and talk about unpleasant or embarrassing details that they might have otherwise avoided, or even unlawful practices they would rather have kept for themselves.2

With substance abuse being widespread, the need for helplines in California hasn’t diminished. Even if deaths from prescription opioids fell by 30% during the 2011 to 2019 period, death rates from fentanyl soared in the last decade, rising as much as 10 times in the period between 2015 and 2019. In addition to this, the number of visits to the emergency department for issues related to amphetamine use increased by roughly 50% in the last 5 years. Furthermore, emergency department visits for issues related to opioids other than heroin practically doubled, rising as much as 100%.3

According to a RAND Corporation research, 62% of responders in California said they would call a hotline for advice and resources, highlighting how beneficial hotlines are to people who are struggling. Just how important California helplines are, is best illustrated by the fact that in the same survey 46% of respondents said they would rather use chat service, while 43% opted for text option. Even in the age of internet and phone apps, hotlines remained the most popular resource for information gathering and support.4

What Is CA Addiction Services Hotline?

California addiction hotlines are essentially phone numbers that are designed to provide people with drug and alcohol issues an easy access to valuable and accurate information. For many addicts, hotlines are the prime resource that addresses their substance use challenges, making them a very effective tool to educate people about addiction. In many cases, hotline advisors are people who have firsthand experience with addiction. This enables them to emphasize with addicts and connect on a deeper level.5

Hotline advisors will provide people with information about insurance coverage, check the extent of their coverage in terms of costs, inform them of the available addiction resources within the state, give advice on the preferred treatment approach, or just offer support at a crucial moment to those who are struggling and just need a person to talk to.5

The need for addiction hotlines in California is best illustrated by the fact that 8.8% of its population aged 12 or older met the criteria for substance abuse diagnosis in 2020. This means that almost 3 million people had addiction issues, which is more than the population of many US states. Roughly 6.3% of Californians struggled with alcohol use, 3.6% reported using illicit drugs, while 0.6% were addicted to pain medication.6

Persons aged 18 to 25 were most represented in each of these categories meaning they are the most vulnerable part of the population and most likely to turn to help from hotline providers. This age group has the highest percentage of both overall alcohol users and people who engage in binge drinking. People aged 18 to 25 represent 4 out of 10 marihuana users and are by far the biggest consumers of cocaine in the state.6

Out of 70,034 patients who were in rehab in California in 2020, 60,658 received outpatient care, including:7

28,745 who enrolled in regular outpatient programs.
5,883 in Intensive outpatient treatment.
1,237 which attended partial hospitalization, also called day treatment.
820 who were a part of outpatient detox programs.
23,973 that participated in outpatient medication-assisted treatments.

Residential treatments in a non-hospital setting had 8,966 patients out of which:7

2,181 took part in short-term programs.
5,813 were part of long-term recovery rehabs.
972 were part of residential detox programs.

When it comes to hospital inpatient programs, more needs to be done to influence people to submit to this type of rehab approach. Even though it’s considered as the most comprehensive, professional, and thorough rehab approach, only 410 individuals had the benefit of receiving this type of high-quality structured care.7

What Questions Should I Ask a CA Substance Abuse Hotline?

Some people may feel anxious before calling the hotline for the first time. Most addicts try to hide their addiction issues from people they are associated with, be it family members, classmates from school, or colleagues at work. Since substance abuse alters people’s behavior and ways of thinking, most are unable to define their issues in clear terms or judge how far their addiction has developed. Here are some of the questions that may help you learn more about your addiction and possible solutions:8

How do I know it’s time to enter rehab?
What are my addiction treatment options in California?
What is the duration of addiction rehab?
Where are the nearby treatment centers in California?
Will insurance provide coverage for drug treatment?
What is the approximate cost of California substance abuse treatment?
Are there any free rehab programs in California?

Can I Call a CA Drug Treatment Hotline For Someone Else?

Yes, you can. If you are close to a person who is burdened by their addiction, you can call the helpline and inquire about the available addiction treatment options in California. Remember to stay positive about treatment and supportive and at the same time avoid being judgmental or confrontational. When you’re talking to hotline advisors, be frank and open because it will help them develop a clearer picture about the specific addiction issues that are present.9

How Do I Know I Should Call a California Addiction Hotline?

If you are thinking whether you should call a CA addiction hotline, maybe the best advice would be to just do it. Calling a hotline is simple and is probably a lot easier than deciding whether you should do it or not. If your substance use still hasn’t turned into a full blown addiction, hotline will offer valuable CA drug counseling, help you better define your mental health situation, or suggest a cognitive behavioral therapy approach.10

On the other hand, if you have everyday problems because addiction is interfering with your obligations, then the right time to call the hotline has certainly come. Hotline’s trained personnel will give you advice on how to cope with addiction issues and what would be the right steps to take before entering into treatment. If you feel that situation is spiraling out of control, or you are enrolled in an aftercare program but feel the need to drink, then call the CA addiction hotline immediately.10

Are CA Substance Abuse Hotlines Free and Confidential?

One of the most important characteristics of addiction help hotlines is that they have to be free and confidential. People have to feel safe in order to open up as much as they should when talking to hotline advisors. It’s in the individual’s best interest to provide as much information as possible to hotline staff, and in many cases of addiction this includes talking about illegal activities. If hotlines didn’t have a strict confidentiality policy, people would be hesitant and would probably withhold information which may prove invaluable for the overall treatment.11

Since many addicts have monetary and financial problems, hotlines have to be free otherwise they would not be helpful to so many people. Unfortunately, most addicts either don’t have the adequate means to call a hotline or would choose not to spend their limited budget on anything other than the maintenance of their substance addiction. Paying for a hotline would negatively influence the hotline’s stated purpose and people’s ability to get the right information. 11

What Happens When You Call the CA Drug Help Hotline Number?

Hotline advisors are trained and knowledgeable when it comes to addiction issues, and they won’t pressure people to open up more than they feel comfortable doing. You’re free to talk about any detail that you think is relevant concerning your specific situation. Don’t feel bad if the only thing you need is someone to talk to because that’s a positive sign and usually one of the first steps towards seeking help.5

After opening up about the details of their addiction and overall mental health condition, people usually feel more inclined to listen about available quality treatment options. Hotline advisors may offer some suggestions about an appropriate rehab approach or the type of facility that will best meet the specific needs of individual patients. They could also explain in detail what to expect from different rehab programs, or how the admissions process looks like and how to prepare for rehabilitation.5

If you want to call an addiction help hotline but aren’t sure about what to expect, here are some of the questions that hotline advisors might pose:10

Are you in crisis and is your life in danger due to substance abuse?
How old are you and where are you located?
Who is your health insurance provider?
How long have you been using and how severe is your addiction?
Can you provide more details about your specific substance use?
Are you experiencing any mental health challenges beside your addiction issues?
How motivated and determined are you to enter rehab?

CA Addiction Hotline Resources & Phone Numbers

Besides having the most addiction treatment facilities in the country, California has a number of resources which offer support to those who are struggling with addiction issues from various substances. Addiction resources are available 24/7 since it’s very important that people have someone to turn to in their time of need. Here are some of the federal and state resources that people in California can count on:

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a government agency that deals with proven scientific facts in order to help people learn more about their substance addiction and tested solutions.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a government agency whose goal is to help Americans with mental health issues that are the result of substance abuse. It has a user-friendly online locator of rehab facilities around the country.
California’s Department of Health Care Services maintains a directory of licensed and certified rehab centers and available recovery programs. You can find county alcohol and other drug offices, and obtain valuable referral information.
Alcoholics Anonymous 24-Hour Hotline Californian branch at: 209-339-1201.
Cocaine Anonymous Los Angeles whose helpline number is: 888-714-8341.
Santa Barbara Public Library which provides basic needs community resources, including medical, mental health, and substance abuse resources.
Riverside County Office on Aging Program provides 24 hour referrals to patients in need of detox treatment programs.
San Diego County Access & Crisis Line, called It’s Up to US, for various issues including an addiction hotline.
San Mateo County Health department’s web page dedicated to substance use treatment services.

How Can I Find A Nearby Inpatient Drug Rehab Facility In California?

If you already talked to California helpline advisers and are looking for a reputable treatment facility to enroll into, you can do no wrong in turning to American Addiction Centers (AAC) for help. AAC has a statewide network of addiction rehab centers that provide all the best medically tested and proven treatment approaches for various forms of substance abuse.

Laguna Treatment Hospital

Laguna Treatment Hospital is AAC’ state-of-the-art rehab facility located in Orange County, California. It offers a secured, structured, and supportive environment for full recovery. Its seclusion, luxurious amenities, and highly professional staff are designed to provide a personalized rehab approach for alcohol and drug addiction issues. AAC’s centers offer 30 days of complementary rehab that is free for patients who relapsed after completing one of AAC’s 90 days rehab programs.

Laguna’s staff offers patients 24 hour medical supervision. This is an important part of full recovery since a patient’s progress is closely monitored enabling physicians to adjust the treatment accordingly. Laguna staff consists of:

Board-Certified Physicians & Physician Assistants
Registered Nurses & Nurse Practitioners
Certified Drug/Alcohol Counselors & Therapists
Case Managers
Therapists/Yoga Instructors & Recreational Therapists

Laguna Treatment Hospital offers various treatment programs for alcohol, opioids, and various illicit substances including:

Safe medical opioid detox.
Inpatient residential programs.
Co-Occurring disorder treatment.
Individual and group therapies.
Rehab approaches that cater to veterans and first responders.
Couples programs for partners who want to share their rehab experience.
Programs that are specially designed for men.
Focused healthcare.
Aftercare planning.

24/7 Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers California Helpline Numbers