The Drug & Alcohol Services Division offers a variety of services and programs to help people with drug and alcohol problems, including public walk-in clinics, outpatient treatment, and court-mandated programs.
Services Offered
Adult Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment
This service provides a full array of treatment options for adults (18 years and older) experiencing substance use issues. All services are available in Spanish.
Screening and Assessment Treatment Planning Psychotherapy Medication Services Psychiatry Case Management Adult Residential Placement
Behavioral Health Treatment Court
This service provides treatment opportunities for individuals who have behavioral health needs and are in the justice system, i.e. court or probation. Individuals will need to be on formal probation to participate in this treatment court.
This service is available to Individuals with both mental health needs and criminal justice involvement.
Fees and Payment
There is no cost for the screening service. Outpatient treatment costs are covered under MediCal and other participants costs will be based on a sliding fee scale. Private insurance coverage will need to be determined by the individual participant and their insurance provider.
Some services may be covered under other funding sources such as a CWS referral or specialized grants. Please ask when applying for services if that may be an option for you.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
