Addiction and Treatment Statistics for Walnut Creek, California

Published on December 14, 2018

The city of Walnut Creek, California has roughly 69,773 residents. Walnut Creek is known for having a thriving downtown area that features historic buildings and cultural attractions.

Those who live in Walnut Creek have many options for entertainment and outdoor recreation, including Bedford Art Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts, and Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Other notable points of interest in the city include Ruth Bancroft Garden, Castle Rock Park, and Heather Farm Park.

Substance Abuse In Walnut Creek And Contra Costa County

Between 2012 and 2014, there were 389 drug overdose deaths in Contra Costa County. From 2013 to 2015, the county had 374 drug overdose deaths. Between 2014 and 2016, there were 356 drug overdose deaths in the county.

Despite this decrease in drug-related fatalities, Contra Costa County has had many problems with opioid abuse and overdose in recent years. Some instances of opioid abuse in the Walnut Creek area include:

• Contra Costa County has an estimated 54,000 residents who have been diagnosed with an opioid use disorder.
• According to a 2017-2018 Contra Costa County Grand Jury report, “more individuals use controlled prescription opioids than heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy) and PCP combined.”
• There were more than 760,000 prescriptions issued in Contra Costa County in 2016.
• More than 100 drug overdose deaths from 2015 to 2016 in Contra Costa County involved opioids. In 2015, the county had more than 100 emergency department visits due to opioid overdoses.
• Opioid overdose deaths have become the leading cause of accidental deaths among those between 25 and 64 years old in Contra Costa County.

Traveling For The Best Program

Since Walnut Creek offers a limited number of alcohol and drug rehab centers, those who need addiction treatment may want to travel to a neighboring town, city, or community. Exploring other California rehab facilities can help ensure that a person finds the most effective substance abuse treatment program for them.