National City, CA Detox and Rehab Centers

National City is the second-oldest city in San Diego County, where rates of drug misuse and overdose have been high for several years during the nation’s ongoing opioid epidemic.

In August 2021, National City held an event called ‘A Day of Action’ to raise awareness about the increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths that were occurring in San Diego during that time.¹ In 2019, there were 152 fentanyl-related overdose deaths in San Diego, and in 2020, that number rose to 406.¹ An estimated 77% of all opioid-related deaths that occurred in San Diego County in 2020 involved fentanyl.²

In July 2022, law enforcement seized more than 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine in National City from a truck that had crossed the U.S. border from Mexico.³ Officials described the drug seizure as one of the largest methamphetamine busts ever to take place in San Diego County.³ From 2019 to 2020, the number of overdose deaths in San Diego County caused by psychostimulants—including methamphetamine—increased by 64% (226 deaths to 370 deaths).²

There are 22 addiction treatment centers located within 5 miles of National City—the majority of which are in San Diego and Chula Vista.⁴ This represents nearly 2% of the 1,265 addiction treatment centers in California.⁴

Relapse prevention, case management, medication management, and behavioral therapy are some of the many services offered at drug and alcohol rehab facilities near National City.⁴ Two facilities offer detoxification services, and 15 offer interim care.⁴

Outpatient rehab programs are offered at 13 facilities, and residential rehab programs at 10 facilities.⁴ Dual diagnosis therapy is available at 18 facilities for people who need treatment for both a substance use disorder and mental illness, and sober living housing is available at one facility for patients who are transitioning from an inpatient rehab setting.⁴

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is available at several of these drug and alcohol rehab centers for qualifying patients in recovery from opioid use disorder.⁴ MAT using methadone is offered at 2 facilities, and MAT using buprenorphine is offered at 11 facilities near National City, CA.⁴

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are drug and alcohol support groups in National City that serve as rich community sources of support for people in recovery from substance use disorders.⁵ Support groups like AA and NA can complement other addiction treatments and are free, anonymous, and widely accessible.⁵

National City is home to many AA meetings—the majority of which are held in the evenings at locations including 2241 Highland Avenue, 635 East 7th Street, and 1212 S. 43rd Street East.⁶ People who want to attend an AA meeting in National City can view an updated meeting schedule on the official website of Alcoholics Anonymous San Diego.⁶

There are 66 NA meetings in National City—the majority of which are held at Grupo Siempre Unidos on 521 East 8th Street.⁷ Many NA meetings near National City are also held in San Diego at 2687 National Avenue.⁷ People who are interested in going to an NA meeting near National City can view an updated schedule on the official website for NA.⁷

Sources:

1. Ahn, R. (2021, August 28). ‘A Day of Action’ in National City brings awareness to ongoing increase in fentanyl.
2. County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. (2022, October). Opioid-related overdoses & encounters in San Diego County, 2016-2020.
3. Paget, S. (2022, July 9). 5,000 pounds of meth seized in San Diego County when truck is followed after crossing border, officials say.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Searching for treatment options.
5. S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2022, March 11). Recovery-oriented mutual self-help groups.
6. Alcoholics Anonymous San Diego. (n.d.). Alcoholics Anonymous San Diego.
7. Narcotics Anonymous World Services. (n.d.). Find a meeting