Addiction and Mental Health Resources in San Diego, CA
For those who reside in San Diego, California, the city’s numerous attractions are well-known. This renowned city boasts stunning natural landscapes, a vibrant arts and culture community, exceptional local cuisine, and much more. Nevertheless, similar to various regions across the United States, San Diego faces its public health challenges. A significant concern in this area is the high rate of substance abuse.
The main substances of concern and major drug threats in San Diego County and Southern California are heroin and methamphetamine (meth), both of which are commonly abused due to their widespread availability and easy access. These illicit drugs are smuggled across the southwestern border between California and Mexico.
The local San Diego DEA Office reports that synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, are becoming two of the most hazardous drugs currently present in the San Diego area. Unfortunately, fentanyl is often hidden within heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, which amplifies the dangers of drug consumption and raises the risk of overdose due to its increased potency. Additionally, marijuana, cocaine, and prescription medications are frequently misused. As overdose fatalities escalate across the country, fentanyl has gained a significant presence on the streets of San Diego, resulting in an alarming increase in deaths related to overdoses.
San Diego saw a 24% rise in drug arrests in 2024. While the number of arrests increased, overdose fatalities decreased by approximately 7.5% from 2022 to 2023, falling from 1,300 to 1,200, as reported by the San Diego County Substance Use and Overdose Prevention Task Force Annual Report Card. However, overdoses and substance use-related fatalities due to drug abuse are still very much a threat. The following information illustrates the prevalence of addiction in San Diego and throughout the state of California.
Bayview Recovery Center, located in San Diego, CA, recognizes that there’s a gap between needing addiction treatment and receiving it. Therefore, we provide men with access to various levels of care and essential resources that educate them on healthy coping strategies for addressing their addiction and mental health challenges.
We aim to shed light on the patterns of drug and alcohol abuse plaguing Southern California and find ways to combat the ongoing epidemic and overdose crisis.
Recovery Resources
The most effective and immediate action to combat addiction is an intervention. We’ll guide you on all the ins and outs of how to stage an intervention.
Alyssa is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and received her Master’s degree from San Diego State University. She has experience working with individuals in recovery of all ages for over eight years. Alyssa has also worked with at-risk homeless foster youth transitioning into independent living along with the families in the neonatal intensive care unit at UCSD.
