Santa Clarita Behavioral Health pushes early addiction treatment in Valencia

Santa Clarita Behavioral Health is urging adults in the Santa Clarita Valley to seek outpatient help early for alcohol or drug use, as October’s National Substance Abuse Prevention Month spotlights addiction risks. The Valencia center offers PHP, IOP and telehealth care across California, with same-day benefits checks and treatment available within 24 hours.

Why it matters: - Santa Clarita Behavioral Health says early outpatient care can help adults address drinking or drug use before it becomes a more severe substance use disorder. - The warning comes as October is traditionally observed as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. - In 2025, 44.6 million people age 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year, according to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

What happened: - Clinicians at Santa Clarita Behavioral Health in Valencia are encouraging adults in the Santa Clarita Valley to seek help sooner for addiction. - The center treats adults with alcohol, benzodiazepine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, painkiller and prescription drug addiction. - The outpatient programs are separate from the center's mental health and eating disorder programs. - Clients can enter partial hospitalization programming or intensive outpatient programming depending on clinical need.

The details: - PHP runs six hours a day, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and includes two individual therapy sessions each week. - Clients who step down from PHP can move to IOP. - IOP meets three hours a day, three to five days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to noon or from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - IOP clients return home after each session, leaving the rest of the day open for work and family. - Group topics include relapse prevention and addictive thinking. - Treatment also includes CBT, DBT, ACT and trauma-informed therapy. - Clients with both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder receive dual diagnosis care focused on treating both conditions at the same time and on trauma. - Each client sees a psychiatrist in the first week. - Medication management continues as needed, including medication for cravings. - A written treatment plan is in place within three days and is updated weekly. - The therapist, case manager, recovery mentor and psychiatric team stay with the client from PHP through IOP and into weekly therapy. - Graduates can attend periodic alumni check-ins and annual gatherings. - The center serves clients across California by telehealth, and hybrid schedules combine in-person and virtual days. - The center is accredited by the Joint Commission and has served more than 1,500 clients. - Santa Clarita Behavioral Health is in network with most major carriers, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, Optum, Tricare and UnitedHealthcare. - The admissions team answers calls 24/7. - Benefits checks are free and completed the same day. - Treatment can begin within 24 hours. - More information is available on the center's website.

Between the lines: - The center is positioning outpatient care as a faster and more flexible alternative to higher-intensity or inpatient treatment for people who still need to work or care for family. - Telehealth and hybrid scheduling widen access for California residents beyond the Valencia area. - The focus on dual diagnosis and trauma-informed care suggests the center is targeting clients whose substance use is tied to underlying mental health needs.

What's next: - Santa Clarita Behavioral Health says clients can start treatment quickly after an intake call and benefits check. - Graduates can stay connected through alumni programming after they complete PHP and IOP. - Adults in California can continue care through telehealth or a hybrid schedule as needs change.