Substance Use Treatment in San Diego

About Substance Use Treatment

Substance use disorder treatment encompasses a continuum of care designed to help individuals reduce or stop use of alcohol, opioids, stimulants, cannabis, or other substances. Treatment is matched to the severity of the disorder and may range from brief outpatient counseling to medically supervised detoxification, residential rehabilitation, or long-term medication-assisted treatment.

Evidence-based approaches include Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Contingency Management, and 12-step facilitation. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) — using medications such as buprenorphine, naltrexone, or methadone — is a first-line option for opioid use disorder and increasingly for alcohol use disorder. Many programs also address co-occurring mental health conditions as part of integrated care.