Substance Abuse

Alcohol and drug abuse was chosen as one of the top 3 most important health issues in Mendocino County in the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The percentage of adults who admit to drinking to excess or binge drinking at least once in the prior month fell from 24% in 2015 to 19% in 2018 (2019 CHNA). Nonetheless, this percentage continues to be high. For young people, alcohol is the most widely abused substance and binge drinking, in particular, has been linked to risky health behaviors.

The drug induced mortality rate per 100,000 has increased from 14.4 (2010-2012) to 26.2 (2018). Further, the age-adjusted rate of deaths from opioids in 2018 was 14.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to 5.4 per 100,000 for California. Mendocino County averages two deaths a month from unintentional prescription opioid overdose, per capita, twice the state average (2019 CHNA). In response to this crisis, Mendocino County has formed the Safe Rx Mendocino Coalition promoting all efforts to build a healthy community that is free of opioid abuse and related stigma. However, there is more work that needs to be done in Mendocino County to reduce substance abuse.

The California Health Care Foundation published the California Health Care Almanac in October 2018 highlighting “Substance Use in California: A Look at Addiction and Treatment.” KEY FINDINGS from the report INCLUDE:

• Alcohol use disorder was more prevalent than other types of substance use disorders. Six percent of Californians reported meeting the criteria for dependence on alcohol, compared to 3% for illicit drugs.
• Substance use disorders (SUD) were most prevalent among young adults 18 to 25, occurring at nearly twice the state average rate.
• Use of alcohol and other drugs often begins in adolescence. By 11^th grade, more than half of California students have used alcohol and almost 40% have used marijuana.
• Alcohol accounted for more nonfatal emergency department visits than all other drug diagnoses combined.
• The number of heroin-related emergency department visits in California more than tripled between 2006 and 2017.
• California is undertaking a major effort to expand and improve its SUD services in Medi-Cal through the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) pilot program.

Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services has a Substance Use Disorders Treatment program. The program web page states, “committed to providing services to residents of Mendocino County of diverse backgrounds. We offer a culturally competent, gender responsive, trauma informed system of care for adults and adolescents while striving to meet linguistic challenges. Utilizing holistic, person-centered recovery, we promote healthy behaviors through prevention and treatment strategies that support our community's need to address alcohol and other drug abuse, addictions and related conditions.

There are two programs offered: Adult Recovery Services and Adolescent Programs

Dr. Mario Espindola, Family Medicine Physician at MCHC Health Centers has written an article on being informed on the line between healthy, social drinking and unhealthy drinking. Click on the title to read: Health Matters: Knowing Your Limits with Alcohol