Getting Recovery: Los Angeles in a State of Flux

Have you noticed the impact of stay-at-home orders, work/ financial insecurity, threats of exposure, and emotionally charged political/ cultural strife as you walk through the neighborhood or talk with family? Walking my dogs, I notice neighbors who seem to be using alcohol and other recreational drugs to cope and make it through another day.

Los Angeles may not be different than what you find in Orange County or other California communities. Perhaps the only difference in drug and alcohol use and corresponding problems is the availability of Los Angeles and Orange County treatment programs. Both regions offer broad recovery traditions and support communities.

It is of no surprise that four months of isolation, diminished financial, employment and personal security, the loss of family and social support, societal inequality, discourse and conflict, and looming unknowns have contributed to an enormous increase in substance abuse and addiction. Substance use disorders are known to be aggravated by these exact problems.

Drug overdoses, nation-wide have grown with accelerating speed since the beginning of the pandemic. Drug overdoses increased eighteen percent (18%) in March, twenty-nine percent (29%) in April and forty two percent (42%) in May! (Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program, a federal program that collects data from ambulance teams, police and hospitals.)

Rehab centers in Los Angeles and Orange County are available though many families and individuals worry about financial investments at a time where the future is very unclear. Affordable alternatives are available. Some treatment programs and rehabs are insurance and MediCal contracted. Many insurance companies have even dropped co-payment requirements.

Rehab centers in Los Angeles and Orange County in many cases are screening out high-risk patients due to fear of COVID or other complications. Most Los Angeles and Orange County outpatient treatment programs are providing services digitally through video-based platforms. Some local intensive outpatient treatment programs offer in-person or telemedicine options depending on each person’s needs and condition.

Mutual support groups are currently offered through online platforms like “Zoom”. In-person communication, often needed by someone seeking recovery is not easy to find. The numbers of new participants in recovery mutual support have all but vanished. People with established recovery are actively keeping these programs alive, and are more than interested in helping people new to recovery.

Tragically there is a chasm between people seeking recovery support and those who can give it.

 

Twin Town can help connect people with recovery and overcome the financial and other roadblocks which stand in the way of engaging in recovery. We can be reached (866) 594-8844 for a no-cost/ no-obligation assessment and consultation.

Following are additional recovery resources available to people seeking help during this most critical moment:

LA Online AA Meeting Directory https://lacoaa.org/2020/03/29/attending-online-meetings-with-zoom/

Los Angeles County AA Meeting Directory https://lacoaa.org/meetings/?tsml-day=1&tsml-distance=10&tsml-mode=me

Twelve Step Online Meetings https://www.12step-online.com/

SMART Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org/community/calendar.php/

Significant Other/ Family Member Support https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/electronic-meetings/

Family Support https://www.familiesanonymous.org/meetings/virtual-meetings/

Family Support https://herrenproject.org/online-support-groups/

Addict Family Support https://www.nar-anon.org/virtual-meetings

Buddhist Recovery https://recoverydharma.org/online-meetings

12-Step Yoga Online https://y12sr.com/meetings/find-a-meeting-by-state/#toggle-id-1  go to “Y12SR Online Meetings” Tab

 

David, Twin Town (866) 594-8844 www.twintowntreatmentcenters.com

Twin Town Treatment Centers is immediately accessible to all Los Angeles and Orange County residents, is accredited by The Joint Commission, and is certified by the California DHCS. All network HMO/PPO/EPO insurance plans and Medi-Cal contract with Twin Town Treatment Centers to provide drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Our phone is answered by real people. We can see people on the same day you call. (866) 594-8844