Although West Covina sometimes seems like a small town east of Los Angeles, the area is actually a city of more than 100,000 people.1 And this inland L.A. County city, similar to other parts of Southern California, has problems among its population with substance abuse problems.
For example, binge drinking is a serious problem in the region. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that between 2005 and 2010, 20.3% of Los Angeles County residents, ages 12 and older, binge drank at least once a year.2
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 1 out of 6 adults in the United States binge drinks at least once a month, which increases their risk of serious accidents, organ damage, and alcohol poisoning.3 Most people who binge drink are between the ages of 18 and 34, but increasingly, middle-aged and older adults binge drink, too, which sometimes involves mixing medications that can lead to even more serious harm.3 In West Covina, the average resident is 37 years old.1
Treating alcohol abuse is crucial. Beginning to drink at a young age increases the risk of ongoing alcohol addiction or abuse of other drugs later in life. It is important to get evidence-based rehabilitation to manage overcoming alcohol use disorder, and we can help.4
There is no obligation to enter treatment and you can opt out at any time.