Norco, CA Detox and Rehab Centers

Norco, CA, located on the western end of Riverside County, is a horse-friendly community that bills itself as “Horsetown USA.”¹ However, its location in a county considered the largest drug trafficking distribution center in the nation makes it susceptible to the community issues that stem from drug addiction.²

While Norco has one of the lowest rates of opioid-related overdose deaths in Riverside County, it has some of the highest numbers for opioid-related overdose emergency department visits and hospitalizations.³

Norco was also the site of a significant drug bust. In 2015, a Canadian man was pulled over in Norco and arrested after police discovered 343 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $5 million.⁴ At the time, it was believed to be one of the largest single seizures of cocaine in over a decade.⁴

Law enforcement in Riverside County has made additional major drug seizures. In 2021, 12 people were arrested and charged with conspiring to traffic methamphetamine into Riverside County.⁵ During the investigation, law enforcement confiscated more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine.⁵

In the fall of 2020, several raids in Riverside County netted the biggest domestic seizure of methamphetamine in the history of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.⁶ A total of 2,224 pounds of meth, 893 pounds of cocaine, and 13 pounds of heroin were seized.⁶

Drug trafficking is not the only concern in and around Norco. Alcohol addiction is also an issue. According to statistics taken in 2019, 20.8% of adults in Norco reported binge drinking over a 30 day period, which is up from previous years and higher than the county average.⁷

Treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is available in Norco and the surrounding communities. A rehab facility provides a supportive environment so people dealing with substance use can get the medical attention they need.

There are more than 1,500 treatment facilities located throughout the state of California.⁸ Close to 150 of them are located within 25 miles of Norco.⁹ The facilities break down into the following treatment categories:⁹

• 63 centers that offer interim care for when a person must wait for availability at another treatment center
• 67 facilities that offer a supervised withdrawal or detox from drugs and alcohol
• 78 outpatient facilities, which offer treatment while the patient lives on their own
• 14 hospital inpatient centers that offer care 24 hours a day
• 83 residential facilities that provide live-in care
• 99 centers that offer dual diagnosis treatment, which addresses both substance use and mental health diagnoses

Often, patients will follow a step-down method that will begin with a supervised withdrawal from drugs or alcohol and then continue into an inpatient or outpatient setting. It’s not unusual to utilize several different treatment methods as part of the recovery process.

Support groups can be an integral part of the recovery process for many people. These programs encourage people to share their struggles and support each other as they work to achieve sobriety.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) offers meetings in Norco on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the following locations:¹⁰

• Mel’s Catholic Church, 4110 Corona Ave.
• The River Church, 111 Sixth St.
• 1769 Western Ave.
• 139 Trakehner Pl.
• Grace Fellowship Church, 652 Sixth St.

There are dozens of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings in Norco and the surrounding area, including meetings at:¹¹

• 1769 Western Ave.
• 4140 Corona Ave.
• 3666 Valley View Ave.
• 10836 Hole Ave., Riverside
• Corona Serenity Club, 1307 West 6th St., Corona
• Christian Heritage School, 1450 West 6th St., Suite 106, Corona

Recovery from a substance use disorder looks different for every person. A support group can provide a safe place for someone to turn to when they need help.

Sources:

1. City of Norco. (n.d.). Home page.
2. Kelman, B. and Heath, B. (2015, November 11). How Riverside County became America’s drug pipeline.
3. California Department of Public Health. California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard.
4. KSEQ. (2015, May 14). Big rig driver busted after police find 343 lbs of cocaine in trailer.
5. U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California. (2021, June 9). Federal Indictment Charges 19 in Alleged Conspiracy to Traffic Pound Quantities of Methamphetamine from Mexico into Inland Empire.
6. Kang, G. (2020, October 14). 2,224 pounds of meth tied to Sinaloa cartel seized in Riverside County, the largest haul in DEA history.
7. SHAPE Riverside County. Community Dashboard.
8. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.
9. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.) FindTreatment.gov.
10. Inland Empire Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous. (n.d). Norco meetings.
11. Narcotics Anonymous (n.d.). Meeting search.