McAlister Institute for Trt and Educ

They offer outpatient, detox and telemedicine. Which one fits is usually decided by how much structure the first few weeks need, and San Diego has 8 other centers within 14 miles.

They detox from alcohol and opioids. Which substances a place handles matters more than the word detox, and 3 of the 8 centers near San Diego offer one at all.

They take under 18s, alongside young adults from 18 to 25, adults from 26 to 64 and adults over 65, which in San Diego is worth confirming before you drive over.

Outpatient only, and nothing within 14 miles of San Diego has beds either, so a residential stay would mean traveling further than that.

They offer a program for people who are pregnant or just postpartum, which not every center around San Diego does.

They do video appointments, which matters if San Diego is a drive for you.

Compare what each one actually provides rather than how each one describes itself. Whoever answers the phone is not always whoever operates the program, because referral services are common in this field. Ask both places for the daily schedule and compare those rather than the brochures.

Dual diagnosis means both are present, and treating them together is the current standard of care. A diagnosis made during active use is often revised later, so an early label is not the final word. Ask whether there is a psychiatrist or a prescriber on the team, and how often you would see them.