Hesperia, California, is a city in San Bernardino County with fewer than 100,000 residents, but the population still struggles with excessive drinking problems.1
Countywide, about 75% of the region’s young people believe that binge drinking is dangerous to your health, even though rates of alcohol abuse among those adolescents is high. The remaining 25% of teenagers surveyed said that they did not believe binge drinking was dangerous even though it contributes to drunk driving accidents and alcohol poisoning.2
There were more car accidents in 2014 in San Bernardino County that involved alcohol than in prior years: between 2013 and 2014, there was a 10% increase in accidents involving a drunk driver.1 Reportedly, there were 1,073 accidents in 2014, and 12% of all the serious car accidents across the county involved alcohol. Statewide, this number is 11% for alcohol-related serious car accidents, so San Bernardino County’s population seems to have more of a problem with drivers under the influence. Across all of California, there was a 6% decline in drunk driving accidents, so the increase in San Bernardino signifies an especially localized problem related to alcohol abuse.2
It is important to get medical supervision for alcohol detox, because some withdrawal symptoms can be physically harmful. Following detox with therapy at a rehabilitation program is also essential for sustained recovery. If you need help finding high-quality treatment programs in your area, research some of the options listed here.
There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time.