Los Angeles Neighborhood Guide: Addiction & Recovery
In This Guide
Statistics on Addiction in Los Angeles
But despite the high rate of drug and alcohol misuse across Los Angeles County, the number of people who actually seek professional treatment is very low. Of the 725,000 people who struggled with addiction, only 37,770 were enrolled in a publicly-funded treatment program.
A 2015-2016 report about addiction treatment in Los Angeles County determined which substances were the most prevalent among individuals in treatment. Here’s a look at the breakdown—heroin (40.3%), methamphetamine (21.6%), marijuana (13.9%), alcohol (13.4%), prescription drug (6%), and cocaine (3.7%). Over 25% of people in treatment reported having a mental health disorder.
Recovery Programs in Los Angeles
People who struggle with severe addictions can benefit from treatment at a detox center, where they can safely go through withdrawal under medical supervision. Certain drugs when taken consistently for any length of time, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, often require a medical detox to prevent severe and even fatal withdrawal symptoms. People who are detoxing from opioids might be given a synthetic drug, like buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone, to make the process more comfortable. Oftentimes, a person will go through detox at a facility that specializes in detox and then transfer to a residential treatment program or an outpatient treatment facility like Nexus Recovery Services.
Residential treatment programs are for people who need around the clock inpatient care. After detox, it allows people to live in a safe and sober environment as they continue on their recovery journey. This is an integral time when recovering addicts may not be physically addicted to drugs or alcohol anymore but are still very new to recovery and therefore require more intensive care. While in a residential program they begin to learn new coping mechanisms and life skills that will enable them to reenter society and maintain their sobriety for the long term.
Los Angeles is one of the best places to enroll in a residential treatment program. Many treatment centers are located in beautiful coastal locations that overlook the Pacific Ocean. Treatment centers may set up activities like spending time on the Santa Monica beach, participating in equine therapy in Malibu, or hiking the trails at Griffith Park or Runyon Canyon.
After completing a residential treatment program, or, depending on their circumstances, a detox program, many people transition into a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) where they receive treatment at a facility five days a week for six hours a day, but don’t live there full-time. Participants in a PHP program may be living at home with their families or in a sober living home if they need added support. Partial hospitalization programs revolve around one-on-one therapy, group therapy, drug & alcohol counseling, and life skills training.
During this stage of treatment, many clients enjoy participating in group outings, where they continue to learn how to live and enjoy life without drugs and alcohol. Group outing may consist of exploring all that Los Angeles has to offer with their peers. You start to learn about the recovery community in Los Angeles outside of your treatment center and how it will fit into your own life and recovery journey.
Intensive Outpatient Programs come after Partial Hospitalization, where a person visits a treatment facility three to five days per week for three to four hours per day, but mostly lives their normal life. Outpatient treatment involves individual and group therapy and counseling with a heavy emphasis on preparing for life after early recovery. Counseling may focus more on goal setting, occupational therapy, career counseling, family therapy, vocational training, and life skills development.
When you’re attending an outpatient program, you have even more time to explore the city of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas on your own or with your sober peers. You can visit one of Los Angeles’ beautiful botanical gardens, take surfing lessons at Venice Beach, or see a show at the famous Orpheum Theatre in downtown.
After a client has successfully completed their inpatient and outpatient treatment, they can graduate to an aftercare and/or alumni program. They are no longer required to meet with a therapist or attend in-person sessions, though many choose to do so, but they get access to a support network that helps them maintain the skills they learned in treatment, to maintain their sobriety moving forward.
Substance Abuse Treatment at Nexus Recovery
Brentwood is located near Westwood—which is home to UCLA—as well as the equally affluent areas of Holmby Hills and Bel Air. Popular Brentwood attractions include the Getty Research Institute, local hiking trails, and award-winning restaurants.
Nexus Recovery is just six miles away from nearly every part of Brentwood. You can get to our treatment center in about 15 minutes via I-405 South. If you’re taking public transportation, you can access our facility from the 14 bus.
Brentwood directions:
Almost 12,000 Angelenos live in the coastal neighborhood of Malibu. As of 2008, the median income in Malibu was $138,215, making it one of the most affluent areas of Los Angeles. It’s a predominantly white neighborhood, where the median age is 52—much older than many other areas of the city. Malibu residents are also highly educated, and over 60% of people have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Because of Malibu’s beautiful ocean-side views and beachfront properties, it’s home to many high-end addiction treatment centers, especially ones that cater to celebrities. Malibu is also home to Pepperdine University, one of the most prestigious private colleges in Southern California.
Malibu is 24 miles away from Nexus Recovery’s facility in Culver City, and you can get to our treatment center in about 40 minutes via CA 1-S.
Malibu directions:
The median household income in Sherman Oaks is $69,144, and the median age is 37. About half of the people living in Sherman Oaks have a bachelor’s degree or higher. The diversity breakdown in the neighborhood is roughly 73% White, 12% Latino, 6% Asian, and 5% Black.
Nexus Recovery is 13 miles from the center of Sherman Oaks, which is about a 20-minute drive down I-405 S. It’s also accessible via the METRO bus.
Sherman Oaks directions:
Hollywood is located in the heart of Los Angeles, with a population of about 60,000 and a median age of 31 years old. It’s considered to be a middle-class neighborhood, where the median income is around $60,000. Hollywood proper spans less than four square miles, so it’s one of the highest population density areas in the city.
Compared to other LA neighborhoods, Hollywood is very diverse, where 41% of residents are White, 42% of residents are Latino, 7% of residents are Asian, and 5% of residents are Black. Hollywood neighbors the upscale areas of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, which are more residential and have a much lower crime rate.
You can get to Nexus Recovery from Hollywood in about 25 minutes via I-10 W. It’s also accessible via the bus system, although it requires several line changes.
Hollywood directions:
Downtown Los Angeles is one of the most diverse areas of the city, with a large population of Latino, Asian and Black residents. The downtown area is home to the Los Angeles Convention Center, the Staples Center, countless bars and restaurants, and cafes.
Nexus Recovery is a short 20-minute drive from Downtown Los Angeles via I-10 W. You can also get there via the bus system or the METRO.
Downtown directions:
Chinatown is home to 20,913 Angelenos, and at less than one square mile, is one of the most densely populated areas of the city. As the name suggests, Chinatown is a predominantly Asian neighborhood, but it also has a large population of Latino residents. As of 2017, the median income in Chinatown was $42,275, making it one of the lower-income areas of Los Angeles.
Chinatown is considered to be a safe area, and has a lower crime rate than many bordering neighborhoods. However, the area has become increasingly gentrified over the years, making it difficult for residents and business owners to afford to stay in the neighborhood. As a result, Chinatown has a relatively high unemployment rate compared to other neighborhoods.
You can drive from Chinatown to Nexus Recovery’s treatment center in Culver City in about 20 minutes via I-10 W. It’s also accessible via public transportation on the bus or METRO.
Chinatown directions:
Unlike other areas of Los Angeles, Los Feliz has a high percentage of single people, with fewer family households. It’s a predominantly White area, although there is a large population of Latino and Asian residents. Data shows that aboug 24% of the population is foreign-born. In terms of education, a majority of Los Feliz residents have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Nexus Recovery is about a 25 minute drive from Los Feliz via I-10 W. You can get there via public transportation, but it takes about an hour and a half without traffic.
Los Feliz directions:
South LA, which encompasses neighborhoods including Florence, Gramercy Park, University Park, and Hyde Park, has a very large population of 171,703. South LA is known as being a low-income area of the city, with a median income of around $32,000. The areas within South LA are largely minority neighborhoods, with a high immigrant population.
South LA also stands out for its higher-than-average crime rate. Car thefts, burglaries and robberies are not uncommon in the area. Drug crimes are also relatively frequent. City data shows that many of the people who live in South LA neighborhoods fall below the city and state-wide poverty line.
You can drive from South LA to Nexus Recovery in about 25 minutes via Slauson Avenue, 1-405 N or 1-10 W. If you’re taking public transportation, you can reach our facility in about an hour on the 108 bus.
South LA directions:
Venice is a relatively young area, with a median age of 35. Only about one-third of families who live in Venice have kids under 18. As a result, many Venice residents rent their home, rather than own. Part of that is also due to the high property values in the area.
If you’re located in Venice, you can reach Nexus Recovery in just a few minutes. Our facility is about 3.5 miles away from the center of Venice, so it’s a quick drive or bike ride away. You can also reach us via public transportation on the CC1 bus.
Venice directions:
Koreatown is a predominantly Asian neighborhood with a large number of Korean immigrants. The area borders Wilshire, MacArthur Park, and Sanford. As of 2017, there were 72,523 people living in Koreatown. With an area of just 2.7 square miles, Koreatown is one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in LA.
The median income in the area is $63,204, and it generally has a low crime rate compared to other areas in Los Angeles. Although Koreatown has a large residential population, visitors will find lots of restaurants, parks, and other attractions. Koreatown also has a popular late-night scene, mostly due to its 24-hour restaurants.
You can get from Koreatown to Nexus Recovery in about 20 minutes via I-10 W. On the METRO purple line, you can get from Koreatown to Nexus Recovery in about an hour.
Koreatown directions:
The median income in East LA is $42,544, and a majority of residents are Latino. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau also shows that over 40% of the East LA residents are immigrants. Additionally, about 20% of residents in East LA live at or below the poverty line.
If you’re driving from East LA, you can reach Nexus Recovery’s facility in about 25 minutes via I-10 W. On public transportation, Nexus Recovery is accessible by several bus lines.
East LA directions:
Addiction Treatment at Nexus Recovery
Most clients begin in our Partial Hospitalization Program, where they receive treatment at our facility for six hours a day, five days a week. As clients progress, they enter the Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Programs. Clients in the outpatient programs spend less time at our facility, and more time reintegrating into their daily lives.
We know that recovery is a lifelong journey, which is why we also offer an Aftercare Program for our clients who have graduated from inpatient and outpatient treatment. Clients can take advantage of sober mentoring, monthly alumni meetings, community events at our facility, monthly check-ins, and more.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, consider referring them to Nexus Recovery in Los Angeles. The mission of our organization is to give clients the tools and support they need to achieve lasting sobriety.
Our team consists of counselors, therapists and physicians who specialize in substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, addiction medicine, and recovery. We work with most major insurance providers to help alleviate the out-of-pocket costs associated with treatment.
Nexus Recovery is accessible to everyone in Los Angeles as well as in every neighborhood. Contact our team to learn more about the addiction treatment programs we offer at Nexus Recovery, and speak with a recovery advisor for a free and confidential consultation.
