Drug Abuse and Treatment Statistics in Southern California
About 2.9 million people, or 8.8% of California’s population, were affected by substance use disorder, based on 2018/2019 data, according to information from the 2022 Substance Use in California report from the California Health Care Foundation. Illicit drug use affected around 1.2 million people, or 3.6% of the population, while 192,000 people (0.6% of the population) reported misusing pain medication.
Of 1,525 substance abuse treatment facilities, 962 offered outpatient treatment, and 655 offered residential rehab, according to the 2022 National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). More than half of these facilities — 935 — treated clients for both alcohol and other substance abuse, while 898 treated clients for use of only substances other than alcohol.
A 2018 Desert Sun survey of 200 people in the Coachella Valley revealed that 55% had abused drugs and alcohol. Of that number, 53% said they required access to a greater variety of medical care options, such as counseling, psychiatric care, methadone clinics, and more.
These drug addiction statistics highlight significant issues related to substance use disorder and the availability of treatment services in California.