SoCal is home to more than 1,000 licensed rehab treatment centers.
And a combination of the nation’s opioid epidemic with California’s health care laws covering addiction treatment, some facilities have been reportedly offering less than quality care. In an investigation by Southern California News Group, complaints about licensed rehab centers nearly doubled from 2013 to 2016. The report also shed light on the lack of regulation for many facilities, as a degree isn’t required to run a licensed rehab, and there are only 16 inspectors for all of the state’s facilities.
With people in urgent need of treatment, it can be difficult to know the red flags are, and what the best places are to get proper care. So what do you need to know if you or a loved one needs to vet a rehab center? Larry speaks to an editor for the investigation and an addiction psychiatrist to find out.
Guests:
Andre Mouchard, assistant managing editor of projects and investigations at Southern California News Group; he was lead editor for the group’s investigative report, "How some Southern California drug rehab centers exploit addiction"
Larissa J. Mooney, M.D., addiction psychiatrist and director of the UCLA Addiction Medicine Clinic; she teaches psychiatrists training in inpatient and outpatient clinical settings