The Drug Situation in San Diego
Due to San Diego’s diverse culture and unique geographical lay out; there are issues that affect the drug situation in the locality. Drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana are constantly being smuggled into the city from Mexico; however, methamphetamine and marijuana are produced or cultivated in considerably large quantities within discreet locations in the city. San Diego remains a principal transshipment area for a variety of drugs, cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine; are all smuggled from Mexico. Most drug traffickers and organizations that are encountered by law enforcement continue to be polydrug traffickers (selling more than one kind of drug) rather than specializing in one type of drug. The northern part of San Diego is widespread with more methamphetamine users and traffickers, more so in rural areas, but heroin remains the top drug of abuse in San Francisco, heroin and crack cocaine continue to affect Oakland, and methamphetamine continues within and around Sacramento.
Drug Rehabilitation
The primary goal of a drug rehabilitation facility is to enable the addicted individual to achieve lasting abstinence from drug use. The goal of a drug rehab center in the short term is to help the individual through detoxification and physiological withdrawal from addictive substances, in addition to improving their ability to integrate and function in society again. A drug rehab facility helps in minimizing the medical and social repercussions of drug abuse.
Patients, who remain in a drug rehab facility longer than 3 months, usually have better recovery results than those who stay within a shorter time period. In the last 25 years, research has indicated that attending a drug rehab is efficient in reducing drug intake and crimes committed by addicted people. Statistical studies have also discovered that drug abusers who have been through drug rehabilitation are more likely to have jobs after treatment.
Inpatient Drug Rehabilitation
Inpatient drug rehabilitation centers offer support and structural treatment for men and women seeking help for substance abuse problems related to drugs or alcohol. The participants reside in the facility for the whole course of the treatment program; lengths of stay may vary and are often individualized. Patient care at an inpatient drug rehab is usually provided 24 hours a day 7 days a week; and this is only one of the positive notes of attending an inpatient drug rehab program.
Outpatient Drug Rehabilitation
An outpatient drug treatment program is designed to provide long-term sobriety from drugs and alcohol. Outpatient drug rehab programs make use of a wide variety of treatment techniques. These techniques encompass a wide range of rehabilitation approaches, which includes problem-solving groups, specialized therapies, such as insight-oriented psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the 12-step programs. Similar to other drug treatment facilities, clients may remain in the program for several months, at times, even longer; depending on individual need. Those who participate in an outpatient drug rehabilitation program, do not reside at the rehabilitation facility as participants in the inpatient programs do.
Drug Detoxification
The aim of detoxification is to cleanse the body of toxins accumulated, during drug use. The first step of this treatment is drug withdrawal. Drug withdrawal is "the act or process of ceasing the usage of an addictive substance”. Once an addicted individual begins to discontinue the use of drugs, physical and behavioral withdrawal symptoms may present itself. Detoxification is a process that assists in diminishing the uncomfortable symptoms usually associated with drug withdrawal.
Detoxification is performed in many different ways, and is dependent on where you decide to undergo with the treatment. Most detoxification facilities simply provide a treatment in order to avoid physical withdrawal to alcohol & other addictive substances. A quality detox program will not only provide the client with counseling during the treatment, but help with the physiological withdrawal and the root cause in the psyche of the individual's addiction problem, thoroughness is recommended in order to decrease the chances of an addiction relapse.
Detoxification Stages
Drug detoxification can be viewed in three separate stages:
1. Medical Detox - A medical doctor will have to supervise your medical withdrawal treatment, ensuring that you complete this phase safely and with minimal physiological complications. A medical detox can last for several days.
2. Physical Detox - Once the body has ceased its dependency on drugs, the patient will need to work on building up their physical health. A nutritionist is recommended during this phase, assisting in developing a balanced diet to strengthen the body as it prepares for the rest of the detoxification process.
3. Emotional Detox – Detox treatment can be extremely difficult on your emotional well-being, the reason why most treatment centers offer counseling during the process. Since drugs have become an integrated part of the mental, emotional and social behavior, emotional help is needed as detoxification proceeds.
Various drug rehabilitation facilities in the San Diego area:
Aurora Behavioral Healthcare
11878 Avenue of Industry
San Diego, CA 92128
Phone: (858) 487-3200
Advanced Healthcare
5333 Mission Center Road
Suite 100, San Diego
California 92108
Phone: (619) 281-6414
Community Connection Resource Center (North Park Freedom House)
4318 Louisiana Street
San Diego, California 92104
Phone: (619) 542-0452
While choosing the drug rehab it has to be made sure that all the aspects of what caused the addiction problem in the first place have to be addressed.
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