What is Northbound?
Northbound Treatment Center is a premier recovery center serving the San Francisco area and all of its residents. We have numerous programs designed to tackle alcohol addiction, drug addiction, and mental illness. They are specifically catered to a number of different interest groups such as pregnant women, heroin addicts, underage alcoholics, etc. In addition to treatment services, Northbound is dedicated to ensuring that our clients live a clean and sober life long-term.
We know how difficult it is to maintain sobriety and so we encourage you to take one step at a time and not push your limits since that could result in relapse. Our highly qualified staff of doctors, therapists, and nurses are incredibly valuable treatment resources.
They are here to help construct a specialized treatment plan to address all of your needs and triggers. We also support organizations and groups like Alcoholics Anonymous since we recognize the impact such systems have on addiction recovery and the communities affected by addiction.
San Francisco Drug Abuse Statistics – You’re Not Alone in This Struggle
Based on the 2007 California Interview Health Survey (CIHS), it is estimated that 20.4% of San Francisco County adult residents need help for emotional/health problems or use of alcohol or drugs. Of those needing help, 77.3% saw a healthcare provider for assistance for mental health or substance abuse concerns. 34.1% of teenagers surveyed reported having tried marijuana, cocaine, sniffing glue or other drugs. 26.6% took prescription medication for emotional/personal problems (2001 CIHS data).
A 2014 study by the Community Epidemiology Work Group shows that alcohol was the main substance for which people were admitted to treatment in San Francisco. About 2,126 males and 678 females entered treatment for alcohol abuse.
Of those who were admitted for alcohol abuse, over 1,200 were between the ages of 45 and 60. The next largest group of alcohol-related admissions involved individuals between the ages of 24 and 44; there were 1,100 individuals within this age group. Over 270 admittees were 60 or older. There were 91 admissions involving people between 19 and 24 years old. Finally, there were 85 admissions involving people from 13 years old to 18 years of age.
The same report states that cocaine abuse was also quite prevalent among substance abuse admissions. In fact, it was the third most commonly reported substance among addiction treatment admittees in San Francisco. Marijuana ranked second, accounting for 18.5% of the admissions in the San Francisco Bay area.
Methamphetamine was also the cause of nearly 1,400 admissions in San Francisco. In 2013, this drug accounted for 39%. Heroin was found to be a frequently abused drug, affecting individuals from 19 to 60 years old.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) directory of substance abuse treatment programs, San Francisco County has 61 drug and alcohol treatment programs.
Within San Francisco County, there are 18 programs that provide alcohol and drug detox services, 9 methadone maintenance clinics, 14 halfway house programs, 14 that use buprenorphine in treatment, 36 outpatient programs, 5 that provide partial hospitalization, 11 residential short-term rehab agencies, 24 residential long-term rehab agencies, and 1 hospital inpatient agency.
About 8% of California residents meet the criteria for substance addiction, while just 10% of them seek any form of treatment. Alcoholism is the most common substance use disorder, with 6% of Californians demonstrating a persistent need for alcohol, compared to 3% having a dependency on illicit drugs. Alcohol also comprises more nonfatal visits to the emergency room than other drug diagnoses combined.
That being said, figures for heroin-related emergencies have tripled between 2006 and 2017. Addiction is more frequently found among young adults aged 18 to 25, with their abuse rates nearly twice the state average. Many people report encountering substances at a very young age. Studies have found that by eleventh grade, more than half of California students have already consumed alcohol and 40% have smoked marijuana.
Mental Illness in San Francisco and California
The prevalence of mental health disorders has also risen. A sixth of Californians are dealing with some type of mental illness while 1 out of every 24 has a mental disorder that makes daily life difficult to manage. Such serious cases are no joking matter and need immediate attention.
Almost 3/4 of serious mental health issues first appear before the age of 25. This is why children and adolescents are vulnerable as they can show symptoms that go untreated for years and are exacerbated. In addition, one out of every six adults experiences at least four potentially traumatic adverse events as children. This includes neglect, domestic violence, and abuse.
Such encounters increase one’s inclination to fall into depression, feel anxiety, have thoughts of suicide, and/or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
In the past ten years, hospitalizations for mental health emergencies have rapidly increased among the youth by more than 40%. Californian residents aged 12 to 17 also demonstrate depressive episodes far more often than the national average. Suicides have also risen significantly alongside national statistics. In 2017, more than 4,300 people took their own life, a 52% increase from 2001. Suicide rates for the 15 to 19 age demographics rose by 63% comparatively.
It is important to note that suicide rates differ per region. They are particularly high in the north where resources are scarce. Trinity County experienced a loss of about 34 residents per 100,000 to suicide, over four times the amount in Los Angeles County, which is in Southern California.
Other hard-hit groups in California are the incarcerated and homeless. Over 30% of inmates are being treated for a major disorder, a 150% change in the past twenty years. About a third of homeless people suffer from a mental illness disorder, amounting to 43,000 of California’s 130,000-person homeless population being affected.
Between the years 2011 and 2015, 37.2% of individuals received treatment for mental health. Unfortunately, however, 62.8% did not. But, it’s important to seek help from treatment centers that offer services for those who are dealing with mental health disorders.
Whether an individual is suffering from any mental illness (AMI), a serious mental illness (SMI), a serious emotional disturbance (SED), or a major depressive episode (MDE), the best course of action to take is to get help in managing and treating the symptoms. Not only will it improve everyday life for those who are living with mental illness, but it will also help to lessen the chances of substance abuse development.
Many people who suffer from mental health disorders also struggle with substance dependence and addiction as a result of their mental illness. Sometimes, people become dependent on the medication they use to manage their symptoms. In other cases, individuals become addicted to alcohol or drugs they use in order to cope with their mental health disorder.
These cases, known as dual diagnosis situations, should be professionally treated. Thankfully, there are many treatment and rehab facilities throughout San Francisco and California as a whole. Here at Northbound Treatment Services, we work to help our clients manage mental health disorder symptoms, overcome addiction, and develop skills and strategies in order to avoid relapse.
San Francisco Recovery Meetings Near Me
In 1938 Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, began creating the 12-Step Program. He recorded the steps in a book called the Big Book for those not able to attend in-person AA meetings. 12-Steps is designed to empower addicts by having them admit their addiction, seek treatment, and to correct the wrongdoings that resulted from their addiction.
AA is conducted in group settings and permits addicts to form their own community of people with similar struggles. Many are paired with a sponsor who encourages them to stay consistent during recovery. The format of AA has been replicated to help addicts with a variety of substances. If you or anyone you know is interested in attending a meeting in San Francisco, you can find them at these locations:
- Alcoholics Anonymous
1821 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 674-1821
- Alcoholics Anonymous
5529 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94112
(415) 587-0442
- Alcoholics Anonymous
3401 Cesar Chavez, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 824-1834
- Narcotics Anonymous
1290 B Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 610-7294
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Treatment in San Francisco
Medical Detox Option
Northbound Treatment Center’s medical detox program is run by a team of incredibly compassionate and highly qualified doctors, therapists, nurses, and other health care professionals who are on-site around the clock to assist our patients. Detox itself is the process of cleansing the body of harmful toxins such as alcohol and drugs, especially after long periods of consumption. It is extremely difficult to undergo and requires a tremendous amount of willpower. Individuals often experience painful symptoms of withdrawal as their bodies begin to crave the alcohol leaving their system.
Detox is normally the first stage of rehabilitation and lasts anywhere between seven to ten days. The length can vary depending on the severity of the addiction or if there are any concurrent disorders, such as mental illness. The time can be cut short with the help of medications that ease withdrawal, such as buprenorphine. Due to the weakened state of the body, our program is supervised by experts to ensure you are recovering in a manner that is safe and effective.
Inpatient Treatment Options
We also offer inpatient treatment. Inpatient care is where patients have access to treatment twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week at our residential facility. People choose this because they require constant surveillance due to the physical and mental toll of recovery.
Without this sustained attention, it is much easier for addicts to relapse since they are not in a controlled environment and being held accountable. Another benefit to around-the-clock treatment is that medical professionals at Northbound are able to see if prescribing medication will help patients manage their cravings and facilitate withdrawal. Inpatient treatment allows them to regulate the dosage so that it does not become another addiction problem and can monitor if one medication does not work or if another is better.
Outpatient Treatment Options
Outpatient care is an alternative where you can leave Northbound and go back home. It is good for those seeking flexibility during recovery and works well for less severe cases of addiction. However, it does place a much greater responsibility on the person to maintain their sobriety when not being supervised. Clients still visit their doctors and psychiatrists or go to therapy, but those are limited in time rather than around-the-clock. Northbound has an intensive outpatient program that combines ongoing therapy with independent living. It is constructed to aid addicts who are recently sober in the transition back into reality after completing a twenty-four-hour program. A patient spends around six to twelve hours a week engaging in the intensive program.
Getting Help in San Francisco: How to Choose the Right Facility
If you are looking for a rehabilitation facility in the San Francisco area, you will want to find a place that best fits your individual needs. It’s important to find a rehab center that challenges you while still offering the support you need in order to maintain long-term sobriety.
The location is also critically important. You may need a center that is in close proximity to the city to allow for family and friend visits, but also remote enough to offer a secure and peaceful retreat, free from the distractions and temptations of daily life.
The facility must be welcoming and attractive, making you feel comfortable and safe. The surrounding areas should offer numerous options for recreational activities and excursions as part of the well-rounded treatment plan. The staff should be highly experienced, skilled, and accommodating.
Here at Northbound Treatment Center, we fulfill all of these requirements and more! We are at the forefront of reforming the experience of rehabilitation and want you to see that firsthand.
Our facility is equipped with the staff and treatment approaches that can help our clients to overcome the effects of substance abuse in their lives and find the freedom they truly deserve. We are dedicated to walking with each of our clients every step of the way as they pursue sobriety through our services.
To learn more about our Northbound’s San Francisco program, call and speak to one of our friendly and caring admissions counselors at (866) 511-2458. All you need to do is make the call and we will help you by answering any and all questions you might have.
Despite what you may feel, know that recovery is possible! It may be difficult to move past the doubts and fears that you are experiencing right now. But, recovery has been achieved by so many people before you and it can happen to you, too! All of those who have found freedom through recovery took the first step in deciding to get clean; they reached out for help. So do not hesitate or allow fear or guilt to keep you from the addiction-free life you deserve. You are only moments away from changing the course of your life!
