When addiction takes hold, the best time to seek help is now. Whether it’s you or a loved one struggling, addiction is a chronic disease that requires professional treatment. At Design for Change Recovery, we provide compassionate, comprehensive drug and alcohol rehab services for clients across California, including those searching for treatment near San Francisco.
Our programs are rooted in both 12-step traditions and alternative evidence-based therapies, allowing us to meet clients wherever they are on their journey. No two paths to recovery are alike, and we reject one-size-fits-all approaches in favor of personalized care that builds confidence and lasting change.
Substance use in San Francisco continues to represent a severe public health challenge:
In 2023, more than 800 people in San Francisco died from drug overdoses, the highest number in the city’s history. Fentanyl was responsible for the majority of these deaths (San Francisco Chronicle).
Between 2020 and 2023, fentanyl-related deaths increased fivefold in the Bay Area.
Methamphetamine remains the second most common cause of overdose deaths, often in combination with fentanyl.
Alcohol misuse is still one of the top reasons for treatment admissions in San Francisco, particularly among adults over 40.
The city has one of the highest overdose mortality rates in California, underscoring the urgent need for effective rehab programs.
These statistics highlight how critical it is for individuals and families in the Bay Area to have access to trusted treatment programs like Design for Change.
At Design for Change Recovery, we provide a full continuum of care in a safe and supportive environment. Our programs are designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit through a blend of evidence-based therapies and holistic modalities.
Key features of our approach include:
Individualized treatment plans: Every client’s program is tailored to their unique needs.
12-Step and non-12-Step options: Clients can choose the recovery pathway that best aligns with their beliefs.
Alternative therapies: Music therapy, nutrition education, mindfulness, outdoor activities, and fitness are integrated into treatment.
Family involvement: Programs that help families heal together and support their loved one’s recovery journey.
Small groups: Therapy in intimate groups ensures more individualized attention and meaningful peer connections.
We provide multiple levels of care to ensure that clients have access to the right support at the right time:
When a loved one is resistant to treatment, our helpline and family intervention specialists provide guidance and structured conversations to encourage the decision to enter rehab.
Clients begin with supervised detox to remove substances from the body safely. If needed, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is provided to minimize withdrawal symptoms.
Our residential program offers 24/7 care in a structured, supportive environment. Clients live at our facility, away from triggers, and participate in therapies such as CBT, DBT, holistic practices, and 12-step work. Stays typically last 30, 60, or 90 days, with extended options as needed.
For clients transitioning from residential care or with milder addictions, outpatient and IOP programs provide structured therapy several days per week while allowing clients to live at home.
PHP is our most intensive outpatient level, requiring 20+ hours of treatment weekly. It’s ideal for clients who need high levels of support but don’t require residential care.
Clients who aren’t ready to return to independent living can transition into sober housing, which provides accountability and support. We also offer aftercare planning, alumni support, and relapse prevention training to sustain recovery long-term.
Our dedicated staff members are what make Design for Change unique. Many of our counselors and team members are in recovery themselves and bring lived experience, empathy, and understanding to every client interaction. This creates a safe, supportive environment where clients feel seen and understood.
Our staff includes licensed clinicians, therapists trained in evidence-based modalities, medical professionals, and recovery coaches. Their combined expertise ensures clients receive the highest quality of care across every stage of treatment.
We work with most major insurance providers to make rehab affordable, including:
Aetna
Anthem
Beacon | Carelon
Blue Cross BlueShield
Cigna | Evernorth
Humana
Magellan
MHN | Health Net
MultiPlan
TRICARE & TriWest
Our admissions team verifies insurance benefits and works with providers to maximize coverage.
Q: What substances are driving addiction in San Francisco?
Fentanyl, methamphetamine, and alcohol are the leading contributors to overdoses and treatment admissions in the city.
Q: How far is Design for Change from San Francisco?
Our facility is located in Lancaster, CA. While outside the Bay Area, many clients choose treatment farther from home to escape local triggers and distractions.
Q: Do you provide detox?
Yes, we offer medically supervised detox with MAT options for safety and comfort.
Q: Do you accept insurance?
Yes, we accept most major insurance plans and will verify coverage for you.
Q: What makes Design for Change unique?
We combine evidence-based therapies with holistic practices, provide both 12-step and non-12-step tracks, and personalize treatment for every client.
If you are coming from North San Francisco, CA, near Presidio, you will want to find your way onto the Central Fwy. From there, follow signs for the Interstate 80 exit toward Bay Bridge/Oakland. Merge onto I-80 E and stay on there for 7.2 miles, where you will take the 580 E exit toward CA-24.
Continue onto I-580 E and then follow that until you hit I-5 S. Stay on there until you hit exit 199 and then merge onto CA-138 E. Stay straight for 35 miles until you hit W Ave D. From there, turn right onto Sierra Hwy. After that, continue onto E Ave I and then make a right onto Challenger Way. Make a final left onto Avenue J/E Ave J, and your destination will be on the right.
If you are coming from South San Francisco, CA, near Oceanview, you will want to get on the Interstate 280 ramp to Civic Center/Bay Bridge. Merge onto I-280 N and take exit 54B to merge onto US-101. From there, continue onto I-580 E via I-80E. Stay on there for 45.3 miles and then take the Interstate 580 exit toward 5 S/Fresno/Los Angeles.
Continue onto I-5 S and then take exit 199 to merge onto CA-138 E. Stay straight for 35 miles until you hit W Ave D. From there, turn right onto Sierra Hwy. After that, continue onto E Ave I and then make a right onto Challenger Way. Make a final left onto Avenue J/E Ave J, and your destination will be on the right.
If you are coming from West San Francisco, CA, near San Francisco Zoo, you will want to get on the CA-1 N ramp and follow signs for exit 509B to get on I-280 S toward San Jose. From there, merge onto US-101 S and take exit 356 for 10th Street/CA-152 E. From there, merge onto I-5 S and take exit 199 to merge onto CA-138 E toward Lancaster/Palmdale.
Stay straight for 35 miles until you hit W Ave D. From there, turn right onto Sierra Hwy. After that, continue onto E Ave I and then make a right onto Challenger Way. Make a final left onto Avenue J/E Ave J, and your destination will be on the right.