Expert Insights
Governor Gavin Newsom, with Senator Eggman (Stockton), proposed an initiative for the 2024 ballot to improve California’s mental illness, substance use disorder, and homelessness strategies. It calls for the creation of residential behavioral health facilities with on-site services that address all residents’ needs in coordination. Research show that combining sober housing,
treatment, medication management, and support services is more effective than using any of these alone. This initiative is a step in the right direction.~ Rita Milios
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics in Thousand Oaks, CA
Here are some statistics about people dealing with drug addiction and alcoholism in Ventura County, the seat of Thousand Oaks, and the state of California:1,5,6
In Ventura County in 2020, men were 112% more likely to die from a drug overdose than women, and 151% more likely to die from an alcohol overdose.
Drug overdoses rose 37% in the county between 2018 and 2020, while alcohol overdoses rose 6%.
In 2017, there was an estimated 165,000 cases of people with opiate use disorder (OUD), and 2,199 opiate overdose deaths in the state of California.
The cost of healthcare as a result of OUD in California in 2017 was $2,426,400,000,000, while rehab costs were $2,739,000,000.
There were 146,499 rehab admissions in California in 2019.
In California in 2019, 47,413 rehab admissions were for methamphetamine addiction, and 42,921 were for opiate addiction.
Financing Alcohol and Drug Rehab in Thousand Oaks
Due to the various Mental Health Parity and Substance Abuse Equity laws, both federal and through the state of California, health insurance companies must provide payment for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). This includes medication and medical assistance provided in certified rehab centers in Thousand Oaks, such as individual and group therapy and detox care.
Whether you have private insurance, state-funded Medi-Cal, or Medicare coverage, you have the right to addiction treatment care in a certified rehab center. There are several ways to pay for rehab in southern California. Read on for a breakdown of the different options that you could use.
Rehab Scholarships
You can also seek a rehab scholarship, which can pay for all or most of the cost of care. These funds are set aside for those with severe addictions and no other way to pay for treatment. You may be able to get a referral to a rehab scholarship through a social worker if you reach out to the Ventura County Human Services Agency.
Rehab Financing with Payment Plans
There may be other financing options, and many rehab centers don’t advertise that they offer scholarships, so call the Thousand Oaks drug or alcohol rehab you’re interested in and ask to find out for sure. One example of a rehab center in Thousand Oaks with financing options is the Wildwood Recovery Center, which has an intensive outpatient program (IOP) in Thousand Oaks as well as an inpatient rehab facility and offers payment options for people that aren’t paying with insurance coverage.
Free or Low-Cost Rehab in Thousand Oaks
The Ventura County Behavioral Center in Thousand Oaks may be able to refer you to rehab programs in the area that have openings, as well as help you apply for Medi-Cal or Medicare. Lutheran Social Services of Southern California is in Thousand Oaks as well, and they may have referrals to low-cost rehab programs, or refer you to community-based addiction treatment services when available.
Pay for Treatment in a Certified Rehab Center with Private Insurance
Private insurance is the route many people use to pay for addiction treatment, using the coverage provided by their provider or purchased on the open healthcare insurance marketplace. Some popular health insurance companies among rehabs in California include Anthem, Beacon, and FirstHealth.
That being said, not every rehab program or health insurance coverage plan is alike. There are different rehab services offered at rehab centers throughout the city and state, each with its program schedule, fee schedule, and philosophy of care. By the same token, insurance companies contract with different providers, as well as charge differing co-payments, deductibles, and other fees. To find the best rehabs in California for you, if you have health insurance, call the phone number on the back of your insurance card. They can refer you to in-network rehab programs in Thousand Oaks and explain your financial responsibilities.
Levels of Substance Abuse Care
Multiple levels of care exist for addiction treatment. Some California residents require all levels of care during their journey to recovery, while others receive only the less intensive options.
Medical Detox: Detox is the process of removing drugs or alcohol from your system, safely and comfortably, in a supervised medical setting. Many people choose a medical detox program to prevent severe withdrawal symptoms. This is often the first step in the treatment process, completed before transitioning into formal treatment services.
Inpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab: Inpatient or residential treatment involves living at a rehab facility to receive 24/7 care. A combination of treatment interventions is provided, including individual and group therapy, nutritional counseling, and medication.
Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): PHPs allow California residents to live at home while attending treatment at a hospital. They often receive many of the same treatment as inpatient care, but can return home during non-treatment hours.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs): A step down from a PHP, IOPs allow California residents to attend counseling several days each week while spending the rest of their time at home, working, or fulfilling other obligations.
Standard Outpatient: As the least intensive treatment option, standard outpatient care is appropriate for California residents who are highly motivated and have a strong support system. It involves just one or two hours of treatment per week.
Relapse Prevention: Aftercare, or relapse prevention, provides ongoing support after a rehab program is complete. Aftercare may include 12-step groups, non-12-step groups like SMART Recovery, ongoing therapy, sober living homes, and more.
Traveling for Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Thousand Oaks
Transportation
Traveling to and from Thousand Oaks is fairly simple, with its proximity to major highways and the LAX airport just under 42 miles to the south of the city. The Burbank Airport (BUR) is even closer, at 28 miles away. Nearby highways include the 101 and the 23, which both run through the center of town.
Accommodations
If you’re wondering where to stay when visiting Thousand Oaks, you could try one of the dozen or so hotels and motels in the city, or explore a little further out towards Los Angeles, where you’ll find hundreds of reasonably priced accommodations. There is also a wealth of apartment complexes and single-family homes to rent or buy, as well as various affordable housing programs that might be able to help if you want to stay for long-term rehab.
Attractions
There’s plenty of fun to be had around town in Thousand Oaks, no matter what your favorite activities are. For instance, there are 18 city parks to spend time outdoors, including several with playground features for families to enjoy. Some popular local attractions in the city are:
- Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Library
- Wildwood Regional Park
- Underwood Family Farms
- The Gardens of the World and the Kids Adventure Garden
To get around town, you can use the Thousand Oaks Transit Service, also known as TOAKS. This service provides public transit to five different routes within Thousand Oaks, and people under 18 ride for free. The VCTC has intra-city transit routes, connecting Thousand Oaks to Ventura on Highway 101, and Simi Valley through the East County routes.
California Alcohol and Drug Laws
California laws include the following policies regarding substance abuse:1,2,3,4,5
California Employee Protections for Drug or Alcohol Rehab: California’s labor code requires employers with 25 or more employees to provide accommodation to staff who voluntarily choose to attend alcohol or drug rehab. This may include unpaid time off or use of sick or vacation time. Employees who wish to request time off for addiction treatment may be able to request it under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act.
Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act: This act provides treatment opportunities for individuals who are convicted of non-violent crimes. Eligible offenders may serve their time in drug treatment rather than in prison.
California Government Prevention and Care Services: Senate Bill 110 expanded these services to include contingency management (an incentivized treatment program) as a benefit covered under Medi-Cal. Patients who demonstrate substance-free behavior, such as drug-free urine tests, are rewarded with vouchers or gift cards.
California Ethical Treatment for Persons with Substance Use Disorder Act: This protects drug addiction treatment clients by requiring treatment providers to adopt a client bill of rights, to ensure all individuals receiving addiction care are treated with dignity, honesty, and respect.
California’s Good Samaritan Law: This law encourages California residents to call 9-1-1 if an overdose is suspected. It protects individuals who seek emergency medical care for overdose from legal repercussions for possession of a controlled substance/drug paraphernalia or providing alcohol to minors.
Resources
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). CDC Wonder Tool.
- California Legislation. (2011-2012). AB-472 Controlled substances: overdose: punishment.
- California State Legislative Analyst’s Office. (2000). Proposition 36. Drug Treatment Diversion Program. Initiative Statute.
- California Legislative Information. (September 9, 2020). SB-855 Health Coverage: Mental Health or Substance Use Disorders.
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (April 16, 2021). State-Level Economic Costs of Opioid Use Disorder and Fatal Opioid Overdose – the United States, 2017.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (June 2021). Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2019.
