Murrieta, CA Detox and Rehab Centers

Angeles, and San Diego.

Fentanyl addiction and overdoses are a major public health concern in Riverside County, where synthetic and illicit fentanyl was related to between 400 and 500 deaths in 2021.¹ Local law enforcement say the county’s fentanyl epidemic is being driven mainly by drug cartels that are bringing this opioid into the country from Mexico.¹ In November 2021, Riverside County law enforcement reported finding just under 2 pounds of fentanyl in a home in Murrieta, which they say was enough to kill nearly half a million people.²

Heroin use is also a serious health concern in Riverside County, where the number of deaths involving this illicit opioid increased by 80% from 2011 to 2015.³ During that period, an average of 2 opioid-related overdose deaths occurred in the county every 2 weeks.³ Additionally, in 2015, 1 in 4 drug overdose deaths that occurred in the county involved heroin.³

The rate of alcohol misuse in Murrieta is higher than that in Riverside County and the entire U.S.⁴ In 2019, an estimated 19.5% of adults in Murrieta reported engaging in binge drinking during the last 30 days, compared with 17.4% of adults in Riverside County and 16.7% of adults in the U.S.⁴

The rate of depression among adults in Murrieta is also higher than that in Riverside County.⁴ In 2019, an estimated 18.9% of Murrieta adults reported suffering from depression at least once in their lifetime, compared with 17.3% of adults in Riverside County.⁴ Depression and other mental health disorders are common among those who suffer from substance use disorders, given how having one disorder increases a person’s risk of developing the other.⁵

Murrieta is home to 5 facilities that treat addiction and substance use disorders.⁶ There are another 5 addiction treatment facilities located within a 10-mile radius of Murrieta in neighboring cities, including Temecula, Wildomar, and Winchester.⁶ This represents a small percentage of the 2,301 addiction treatment centers in California, though many Murrieta residents have the option of accessing treatment within a few miles of their homes.⁷

Murrieta residents in need of opioid addiction treatment also have the option of working with 1 of 21 buprenorphine practitioners located in the city and within a 5-mile radius.⁷ Buprenorphine is a prescription medication that can help reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, along with the potential for opioid misuse.⁸ The opioid treatment program available at WCHS, Inc. on 40700 California Oaks Road in Murrieta is another treatment option for those in recovery from opioid use disorder, as it offers opioid detox and medication maintenance services.⁹

Drug and alcohol support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are free treatment options that can complement professional addiction treatment programs offered at drug and alcohol rehab centers.¹⁰ AA and NA are worldwide fellowships that provide peer support and motivation to those in recovery from addiction and may be more effective than psychotherapy in helping people achieve abstinence.¹⁰

AA meetings in Murrietta take place at a local community church that hosts 5 different meetings Monday through Thursday.¹¹ There are additional AA meetings in nearby cities for those who want to explore different venues and groups.¹² AA meeting schedules for Murrietta and neighboring cities are located on the websites for the Twelfth Step Service Board and Inland Empire Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous.

There are six NA groups in Murrietta, some of which are virtual.¹³ In total, there are 13 NA meetings in Murrietta and within a 10-mile radius for those who wish to attend these support groups.¹³ A full list of NA meetings in and near Murrietta is available on the official NA website.

Sources:

1. McMillan, R. (2022, January 12). Families of victims who died of fentanyl use rally to raise awareness.
2. McAllister, T. (2021, November 10). Nearly 500,000 lethal doses of fentanyl found at Murrieta address.
3. Napler, R. (2018, February). Overdose and opioid deaths in Riverside County, CA.
4. Strategic Health Alliance Pursuing Equity Riverside County. (n.d.). City dashboard: Murrieta.
5. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018, August). Comorbidity: substance use disorders and other mental illnesses DrugFacts.
6. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Find treatment.
7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Find a facility.
8. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, March 4). Buprenorphine.
9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Opioid treatment program directory.
10. Erickson, M. (2020, March 11). Alcoholics Anonymous most effective path to alcohol abstinence.
11. Twelfth Step Service Board. (n.d.). Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) meetings in Murrieta, CA.
12. Inland Empire Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous. Meetings.
13. Narcotics Anonymous. NA meeting search.