Addiction Hotline — Santa Monica, Los Angeles
Santa Monica's affluent neighborhoods and vibrant Westside culture mask significant struggles with alcohol, prescription drugs, and homelessness-related substance use. Confidential help is available 24/7.
Available 24/7 — No insurance required
Addiction Hotlines for Santa Monica Residents
All numbers below are verified, free, and available to anyone in the Santa Monica and Westside area.
LA Addiction Helpline Featured
Free, confidential help for Santa Monica and Westside residents
Hours: 24/7
LA County SASH Hotline
Substance Abuse Service Helpline — English & Spanish
Hours: 24/7
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Mental health crisis support — call or text
Hours: 24/7
211 LA
Social services referral for Westside housing, food, and health
Hours: 24/7
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free national treatment referral service
Hours: 24/7
Addiction and Substance Use in Santa Monica
Santa Monica is an independent city of roughly 93,000 residents on LA's Westside, known for its beaches, the Santa Monica Pier, and a thriving commercial district along the Third Street Promenade and Montana Avenue. It is among the wealthiest cities in the region — but wealth does not insulate communities from addiction.
Alcohol misuse is the dominant substance concern in Santa Monica and the broader Westside. The concentration of upscale restaurants, bars, and social events along Ocean Avenue, Main Street, and the Promenade normalizes heavy drinking in ways that delay help-seeking. LA County Department of Public Health data for Service Planning Area 5 (West) shows alcohol-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations that reflect this pattern, particularly among adults aged 25 to 54.
Prescription drug misuse is another significant concern. The Westside's concentration of physicians and concierge medical practices has historically contributed to over-prescribing of benzodiazepines, stimulants, and opioid painkillers. While prescribing practices have tightened in recent years, many individuals who developed dependencies have transitioned to illicit sources or now face withdrawal without adequate support.
Santa Monica's visible unhoused population — particularly concentrated along the beach, in Palisades Park, and near the Civic Center — includes many individuals dealing with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. The city has funded extensive outreach through partnerships with The People Concern and OPCC (formerly Ocean Park Community Center), which operate shelters, drop-in services, and supportive housing that integrate substance use treatment. CLARE Foundation, based in Santa Monica since 1970, remains one of the Westside's most established addiction recovery organizations, offering detox, residential treatment, sober living, and outpatient programs. Call (213) 277-7446 for a confidential referral.
Treatment Resources on the Westside
The Westside offers treatment options ranging from luxury private rehabilitation to publicly funded community programs. Here are key resources accessible to Santa Monica residents.
- CLARE Foundation: Santa Monica-based nonprofit offering detox, residential, sober living, and outpatient treatment since 1970
- The People Concern: Integrated housing and substance use treatment for unhoused Westside residents
- Venice Family Clinic: Community health center with behavioral health and substance abuse counseling
- Providence Saint John's Health Center: Emergency psychiatric services and inpatient stabilization in Santa Monica
Call (213) 277-7446 for help finding the right treatment on the Westside, whether you have private insurance, Medi-Cal, or no coverage at all.
Get Help in Santa Monica Today
Talk to someone who can match you with Westside treatment options — free and confidential.
Call (213) 277-7446Frequently Asked Questions — Santa Monica Addiction Help
What addiction hotlines are available in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica residents can call the Los Angeles Addiction Hotline at (213) 277-7446 around the clock. The LA County SASH Hotline (1-844-804-7500) provides bilingual substance abuse referrals. For mental health crises, dial 988. The City of Santa Monica also funds local behavioral health programs through its housing and human services division.
What substances are most commonly misused in Santa Monica?
Alcohol is the most prevalent substance of concern in Santa Monica, driven by the city's active dining and nightlife scene along the Third Street Promenade and Ocean Avenue. Prescription drug misuse — particularly benzodiazepines and opioid painkillers — is also significant in the affluent Westside population. Among the unhoused population, methamphetamine and fentanyl are increasingly common.
Are there addiction treatment options on the Westside?
Yes. The Westside has several treatment options, including CLARE Foundation in Santa Monica, which has provided addiction recovery services since 1970. The Venice Family Clinic offers integrated behavioral health. Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica has a psychiatric emergency department. Call (213) 277-7446 for a Westside-specific referral.
Does Santa Monica address homelessness and addiction together?
Santa Monica has invested significantly in programs that address substance use and homelessness simultaneously. The city funds outreach teams that connect unhoused individuals to treatment, and organizations like The People Concern operate drop-in centers and permanent supportive housing on the Westside. Call (213) 277-7446 to learn about integrated housing and treatment programs.
Can I get free Narcan in Santa Monica?
Yes. Naloxone is available without a prescription at pharmacies throughout Santa Monica. Community organizations and the Santa Monica Fire Department's community paramedicine program also distribute naloxone. The CLARE Foundation and local harm reduction programs provide training on naloxone administration.
Is addiction treatment in Santa Monica covered by insurance?
Most treatment programs on the Westside accept private insurance, and many also accept Medi-Cal. CLARE Foundation offers both insurance-based and publicly funded treatment. California law requires health plans to cover substance use disorder treatment at parity with medical care. Call (213) 277-7446 to verify coverage options for specific programs.