Drug Treatment Programs in San Diego: San Diego Sees Decline in Meth Addiction Treatment

Although many areas around the country claim to be the meth capital of the world, San Diego is most certainly in the running. Meth abuse and addiction have plagued the city of San Diego and surrounding county for decades. Although running second to alcohol abuse methamphetamine is still a significant problem as a drug of abuse in the area.

The methamphetamine problem began to worsen in the late eighties and the early nineties when Colombian drug cartels were at their peak but met their demise. This slowed the flow of cocaine in the U.S and increased the demand for methamphetamine of which Mexican drug cartels held the market. Mexican drug cartels have existed for years having grown more powerful with these events.

Realizing the escalating problem the San Diego County Board of Supervisors authorized the development of the Methamphetamine Strike Force in 1996. This multi-disciplinary group is composed of 70 member organizations, agencies, which include representatives from public health, law enforcement, judiciary, education and treatment on local, state and federal levels.

The efforts of this Meth Strike Force collaboration are showing positive results. Meth Abuse and addiction in San Diego is declining. Indicators in the region show a significant drop in 5 out of 6 areas. While methamphetamine continues to be a major problem these results are positive. The drug remains inexpensive due to the close proximity to Mexico and San Diego being the first stop for shipments throughout the US.

From 2005-2009 deaths from meth abuse declined 43%, Meth treatment admissions dropped 17%, arrestees testing positive for meth decreased over 40% with overall arrests for sales and possession of meth down over 50% and meth cleanup and seizures also dropping nearly 40%. One area that remained unchanged was the over 2,250 emergency room visits for meth abuse or related incidents each year.

These are significant changes in the meth addiction battle and will reflect positive outcomes exponentially, particularly in saving taxpayer money. The average meth addict alone costs San Diego county taxpayers $ 25,000 a year. With hundreds of millions spent on meth addiction and subsequent issues, these outcomes are uplifting.

With meth addiction, tolerance is the biggest problem; abusers need more of the drug to have the same effect. The toxic effects of meth deplete dopamine and serotonin levels. This neurotoxicity can last up to two years. There is a 4-6 month time frame needed for these effects to subside and the brain recovers from the abuse. This makes short-term treatment for meth addiction ineffective with most programs prescribing antidepressants which create further problems and add to the already polluted brain.

Meth addiction and its treatment is not cheap costing billions each year, education is the key to its handling. Knowing the toxic effect of drugs helps those who may be tempted to make wiser decisions to abstain. San Diego is enjoying the efforts of many in the meth abuse fight, after 15 years and billions of dollars, money on education may have been better spent.

Alcoholism Part 1 – LastingRecovery.com – San Diego – Judy Saalinger – Visit LastingRecovery.com or call 858-453-4315 to find the help you need. Part 1 of a 3-part Audio Program focusing on ALCOHOLISM, with Dr. Judy Saalinger of Lasting Recovery, the premiere San Diego outpatient treatment center. Judy Saalinger, Ph.D., MFT, CAS, and Arthur Farkas, Ph.D., founded Lasting Recovery in July, 2004. With well over 30 years of therapeutic and clinical work in the field and many years of personal recovery from addictions, the husband and wife team recognized an opportunity for their work to have an even greater impact while addressing the unmet need for quality outpatient addiction treatment in San Diego. Lasting Recovery’s History: •July 2004 – Opened the doors to Lasting Recovery for Outpatient Treatment •January 2005 –Certified by California Alcohol and Drug Programs •January 2010 — Awarded CARF Accreditation •May 2010 –TRICARE Certified Substance Use Disorder Rehab Facility (SUDRF) We work with individuals and families and offer hope for a healing recovery and a promising future. We coordinate care with psychiatrists, therapists, psychologists, family and primary care physicians, facilities, attorneys, employers, universities and diversion boards through confidential, professional assistance with education, referrals, and placement services. We refer to: •Interventionists •Inpatient detoxification and treatment facilities •Transitional/ sober living homes •Psychiatrists •Psychotherapists •Primary care physicians Lasting Recovery also acts as …

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