Saugus, one of Santa Clarita’s most family-oriented and welcoming neighborhoods, is often described as a quiet and safe place to live. Yet, like many suburban communities across Los Angeles County, Saugus has been impacted by rising rates of drug and alcohol misuse. According to local law enforcement, overdose deaths in the Santa Clarita Valley have tripled or even quadrupled since 2019. This tragic trend reflects a larger pattern across the county, where fentanyl, methamphetamine, and alcohol continue to devastate individuals and families.
The need for effective, affordable treatment near Saugus has never been greater. At Design for Change Recovery, our mission is to provide a full continuum of care that helps people achieve lasting sobriety in an environment of compassion, evidence-based treatment, and holistic healing.
Santa Clarita, including Saugus, is part of Los Angeles County, where drug-related challenges remain significant. In 2024, the county recorded 2,438 overdose deaths, down from 3,137 in 2023, but fentanyl still accounted for more than half of these fatalities. Methamphetamine is the most common drug cited in treatment admissions, followed closely by alcohol. National trends, such as the increase in counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, have also reached local youth populations, making prevention and treatment even more urgent.
While overdose deaths have declined slightly, the Santa Clarita Valley has not escaped the impact of this crisis. Families here continue to struggle with addiction’s consequences, and local leaders stress the importance of expanding access to treatment programs that are affordable, accessible, and effective.
Addiction is not simply a matter of willpower — it is a chronic condition that affects the brain, body, and behavior. Recovery requires structured care, professional guidance, and long-term support. At Design for Change Recovery, our program integrates evidence-based practices with holistic therapies to ensure clients receive comprehensive care.
Clients at our Lancaster facility, located less than an hour from Saugus, benefit from:
A safe, distraction-free environment ideal for focusing on recovery
Medically supervised detox to ensure safety during withdrawal
Individualized treatment plans that adapt to each client’s unique needs
Therapies that address physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health
Compassionate staff, many with lived experience in recovery
A full continuum of care from detox to aftercare
We use therapies that have been proven effective in clinical research, combined with holistic healing approaches. These include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment for co-occurring disorders
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Relapse Prevention Education
Group and Individual Counseling
Family Therapy and Support
Holistic options such as yoga, meditation, fitness, nutrition counseling, music and art therapy, biosound therapy, and experiential therapy
This multi-faceted approach ensures clients heal not only from addiction itself but also from the underlying issues that contribute to it.
Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. We provide a range of care levels so treatment can be tailored to each client’s needs and progress.
Detoxification
Detox is the first step in recovery. Our medically supervised detox programs ensure the safe removal of addictive substances from the body. When needed, MAT medications are provided to reduce withdrawal discomfort.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient programs are ideal for individuals with mild addictions and supportive home environments. Clients attend scheduled therapy sessions a few times each week while continuing daily responsibilities.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
IOP is more intensive, requiring attendance four or five times per week for several hours per session. It offers structured care while allowing clients to live at home.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
PHP is the most intensive outpatient level, providing 20+ hours of treatment per week. Clients attend therapy five days weekly for up to eight hours per day.
Residential/Inpatient Treatment
Our inpatient program provides 24/7 care in a structured, supportive setting. Clients live on-site, removed from daily triggers, and focus entirely on recovery. Programs range from 30 to 90 days or longer if needed.
Intensive Inpatient Treatment
For clients with more severe needs, intensive inpatient care provides specialized therapies not offered in other levels of treatment.
Extended Care & Aftercare Services
Recovery doesn’t end when treatment does. We provide aftercare planning, sober living arrangements, counseling, support groups, and alumni programs to help clients stay connected and prevent relapse.
Statistics consistently show that individuals who participate in structured aftercare programs are far less likely to relapse. Our aftercare services are designed to help clients reintegrate into society with confidence, offering ongoing support, accountability, and resources for long-term success.
Aftercare options include:
Sober living homes
Alumni support programs
Group and individual therapy sessions
Family involvement
Relapse prevention workshops
Community-based self-help groups
Insurance coverage varies by provider and plan, but most major insurers offer at least partial coverage for addiction treatment. At Design for Change, we are in-network with many leading providers including:
Aetna
Anthem
Beacon | Carelon
Blue Cross BlueShield
Cigna | Evernorth
Humana
Magellan
MHN | Health Net
MultiPlan
TRICARE and TriWest
Our admissions team will verify your insurance and work directly with your provider to maximize coverage so you can focus on recovery.
Families in Saugus and across Santa Clarita choose Design for Change Recovery because we combine the structure of evidence-based treatment with the compassion of personalized care. Located nearby in Lancaster, we provide a healing environment where clients can escape daily distractions while staying close enough for family involvement.
Q: What substances are most common in Saugus and Santa Clarita?
Fentanyl, methamphetamine, and alcohol are the leading substances contributing to addiction in the area.
Q: How far is Design for Change from Saugus?
Our Lancaster facility is less than an hour’s drive, making it easily accessible.
Q: Do you provide medical detox?
Yes. We offer medically supervised detox with MAT options for safety and comfort.
Q: Does insurance cover rehab near Saugus?
Yes. We work with most major insurance providers and will verify coverage for you.
Q: What levels of care are available?
We offer detox, outpatient, IOP, PHP, residential, intensive inpatient, and aftercare programs.