Detox Centers in Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs, located in Riverside County, CA, is home to 44,575 residents as of the 2020 census.¹ While this city in southern California is known for stylish hotels, spas, and golf courses, at least 17.3% of its population falls under poverty lines.¹ Palm Springs is also part of what’s known as the Coachella Valley, where local news outlets report at least 55% of homeless individuals struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, while another 44% reported mental health issues.²

Homelessness has become an increasing problem in Palm Springs, to the point business owners are coming together to form watch groups to combat public nuisances.³ The local news report that these community-based efforts are a way to provide support to homeless individuals in need of addiction and mental illness treatment.³

But homelessness isn’t the only driver of substance abuse in California. According to a report looking at responses from 2019-2010, between 13% and 18% of people aged 12 or older reported using illicit drugs within the past month.⁴ Children between the age of 12 and 17 were among the highest users, reaching 12.41%.⁴ Most users (4.21%) chose cocaine as their drug of choice, while only 0.44% used heroin and less than 1% methamphetamines.⁴

On the other hand, California is among the states with the highest prescription pain relievers.⁴ In 2018, city reports placed Palm Springs as the city with the highest opioid-related inpatient hospitalizations, with a rate of 349.6 per 100,000 residents.⁵ According to local news reports, the city is making efforts to promote mental illness and addiction treatment journeys for its residents.⁶

Thankfully, the city of Palm Springs has numerous public and private detox and rehab centers that provide access to effective treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there are 44 facilities within 25 miles of Palm Springs, CA.⁷ These facilities provide access to various treatment options, including:⁸

• Detoxification (detox): A process that helps the body rid itself of substances while symptoms of withdrawal are monitored and treated.
• Interim care: A way to provide medication and emergency counseling while treatment at a full-service facility is available.
• Outpatient: Ideal for patients willing to attend regular appointments and treatment while living independently.
• Hospital inpatient: Facilities are usually connected to a hospital that provides 24/7 access to care.
• Residential: Long-term treatment setting where patients reside within the facility for the length of their treatment.
• Transitional housing: Also known as sober living, these facilities support people in recovery with a place to live.
• Co-occurring mental health and substance use treatment: Integrated care that focuses on addressing mental illness and substance abuse simultaneously.,
• Telemedicine: A way to provide ongoing support and assistance for patients living away from a facility

Drug and alcohol support groups are an excellent complement to formal addiction treatment.⁹ These peer support groups provide a safe and supportive space for individuals engaged in treatment and after. The most popular ones are those affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).⁹

In the Palm Springs area, the closest local AA resource is the Central Intergroup Office of the desert.¹⁰ They host meetings every day, online and in-person, starting as early as 7:00 am.¹¹ The latest availability and meeting times can be found at www.aainthedesert.org.

Palm Springs is located in the Lower Desert Area, and for NA resources, residents can turn to CIRNA.¹² They host meetings every day, online and in-person, starting at 5:30 pm on weekdays and 10:00 on weekends.¹² To find the latest availability and meeting times, visit www.cirna.org.

Sources:

1. U.S. Census Bureau. QuickFacts: Palm Springs city, California.
2. Nicole, H., (2019, April 18). Desert Sun. Drugs a ‘rational response to hopeless situation:’ 55% of Coachella Valley homeless struggle with addiction.
3. Nico, P., (2021, November 30). NBC Palm Springs. Palm Springs Business Owners Form Community Watch Group; Plan To Combat Homelessness.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). 2019-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health National Maps of Prevalence Estimates, by State.
5. Riverside University Health System. (2018, October). Opioid-Related ED Visits and Hospitalizations in Riverside County
6. The Associated Press and Emma S. (2022, March 03). Newsom proposes plan to force homeless people with severe mental illness or addictions into treatment.
7. FindTreatment.gov. Results.
8. FindTreatment.gov. (2019, October). Types of Treatment.
9. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019, October 1). Step by Step Guides to Finding Treatment for Drug Use Disorders.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous. Find AA Near You (North America).
11. Alcoholics Anonymous Central Intergroup of the Desert. Meetings.
12. CIRNA. Find a Meeting.