Known as “the Heart of Screenland,” Culver City has a long history in the film industry in Southern California. Thanks to an urban renovation effort, the city is now building a reputation as a center of culture, arts and fine dining. However, like many other cities in Los Angeles County, Culver City also has to confront the realities of international drug trafficking. In 2012, the community was the center of a $100 million PCP bust, KTLA.com reports. Guns were also found during the Culver City raid.
PCP, or phencyclidine, is gaining popularity as a drug of abuse, notes the U.S. Department of Justice. The department notes that there were over 37,000 emergency room admissions for PCP use in 2008. This hallucinogenic drug was once used in medical settings as a surgical anesthetic, but it is no longer sold legally in the United States. This crystalline powder can be snorted, injected or smoked with tobacco or marijuana leaves. Because of its mind-altering effects, PCP has caught on among young people, who often use the drug at parties, underground clubs or raves. For many young adults and teens in Los Angeles County, experimenting with drugs like PCP is the beginning of a long, hard fight with addiction.
Why Go Through Drug Rehab?
Is it really necessary to enroll in a drug rehabilitation program to get clean and sober? Possibly not, but by attempting to quit drugs on your own, you deprive yourself of the benefits of professional addiction treatment, such as:
- Counseling, motivation and education from certified addiction counselors
- Moral support from other individuals in recovery
- A supportive, structured residential or outpatient environment
- Anti-addiction medications to help you handle cravings and withdrawals
- Behavioral modification training to help you cope with triggers and stressors when you’re back to your daily life
- A comprehensive aftercare program to help you maintain your sobriety
Although you don’t need rehab to quit drugs, you can improve your chances of staying clean over the long term by entering an addiction treatment center. Getting the drugs out of your system is only the beginning of the profound personal changes you’ll make when you go through detox and rehabilitation at a professional facility.
Sober Living for Culver City Residents
The period after rehabilitation can be both exhilarating and terrifying. Breaking free from addiction can give you a newfound independence, but it also leaves you free to go back to your old habits and reconnect with dealers. For many rehab graduates, getting discharged into their old environment is simply too dangerous. Sober living communities provide a transitional step between rehab and the “real world,” where you can practice your new coping strategies in a safe, supervised setting.
Sober living homes have guidelines that their residents must follow in order to maintain a drug- and alcohol-free environment. Drugs and alcohol aren’t permitted in the facility, and there may be curfews and restrictions on visitors. You may be required to attend house meetings, pitch in with household chores and contribute to monthly rent. In exchange, you get to live in an environment that fully supports your recovery. According to the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, participation in a transitional sober living program can help you maintain your motivation and stay on track with your recovery goals while reducing your risk of a relapse.
Here at Axis, we provide a full range of recovery services, from detox and rehab to sober living communities. Call one of our admissions counselors to talk about the options for Culver City residents and start the process of rebuilding your life today.