Addiction and mental health programs provide structured care for people whose symptoms, substance use, or behavioral patterns are interfering with health, relationships, work, and daily stability. These concerns frequently overlap, which means treating only substance use or only emotional symptoms may leave important parts of the problem unaddressed. Rainbow Hill Recovery provides outpatient programs for adults who need support for substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or a combination of both. Our available levels of care include a Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Programs, an Outpatient Program, and a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program.
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition marked by an impaired ability to stop or control drinking despite negative social, occupational, emotional, or health consequences. It is not defined by a particular beverage, a certain appearance, or how often someone drinks compared with other people. A person may have AUD when alcohol repeatedly takes priority over responsibilities, relationships, safety, values, or physical well-being. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism describes AUD as a brain disorder because repeated alcohol misuse can create lasting changes that reinforce cravings and increase vulnerability to relapse.
Alcohol addiction is also more common than many people realize. According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 27.1 million U.S. adults, or 10.3% of adults, had AUD during the previous year. The survey also found that 57 million adults reported binge drinking during the previous month, representing 21.7% of the adult population. Only about 2 million adults with past-year AUD received alcohol use treatment in 2024, meaning approximately 7.5% obtained care.
There is no single cause of alcohol addiction, and developing AUD is not a personal failure. Risk usually develops through an interaction among genetics, brain chemistry, drinking patterns, mental health, coping behaviors, relationships, social environments, and life experiences. Starting to drink at a younger age, drinking heavily, having a family history of alcohol problems, and living with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or another substance use disorder can increase vulnerability. These factors do not guarantee addiction, but they can make alcohol harder to regulate once drinking becomes a primary coping method.
Stress and trauma may also influence how alcohol is used. Some people drink to quiet intrusive memories, reduce social anxiety, numb grief, fall asleep, manage loneliness, or temporarily escape emotional pain. Alcohol may appear to reduce distress in the moment, but repeated heavy use and withdrawal can intensify anxiety, low mood, irritability, and sleep disruption over time. This can create a cycle in which alcohol is used to relieve symptoms that alcohol itself may be worsening.
Health professionals diagnose AUD by looking for a pattern of symptoms occurring within a 12-month period. The DSM-5-TR framework includes 11 possible symptoms, and the presence of at least two may indicate alcohol use disorder. Two or three symptoms are classified as mild AUD, four or five as moderate AUD, and six or more as severe AUD. A complete assessment matters because severity cannot be determined by one symptom, one drinking episode, or another person’s concern alone.
Common signs can involve changes in control, priorities, tolerance, and physical response. They may appear gradually or become obvious following a medical, legal, work, or relationship crisis. No single sign proves that someone has alcohol use disorder. The following symptoms may appear in different combinations:
Not everyone experiences these signs in the same way. One person may maintain employment while privately struggling with cravings, withdrawal, or repeated attempts to stop, while another may experience visible medical, financial, legal, or relationship consequences. Changes in mood, secrecy, missed commitments, unexplained injuries, disrupted sleep, and growing tolerance can also indicate that alcohol is becoming harder to manage. The central question is not whether someone has reached a dramatic “bottom,” but whether drinking is creating distress, loss of control, risk, or impairment.
Alcohol can affect nearly every system in the body. Ongoing excessive use is associated with liver disease, digestive problems, high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke risk, weakened immune function, memory problems, and several forms of cancer. Alcohol also disrupts communication pathways in the brain, which can affect judgment, coordination, mood, decision-making, and impulse control. These effects may develop gradually, making them easy to minimize until a medical event, accident, or major life disruption occurs.
The public-health consequences are substantial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that excessive alcohol use contributes to approximately 178,000 deaths in the United States each year from chronic diseases and acute events. CDC data also indicate that excessive drinking shortened the lives of those who died by an average of 24 years. These figures do not mean everyone who drinks will develop AUD, but they show why persistent heavy drinking deserves timely attention rather than shame or delay.
Alcohol use and mental health can also affect one another. Depression, anxiety disorders, trauma-related conditions, sleep disorders, and other substance use disorders commonly occur alongside AUD. A person may drink to manage emotional symptoms and then experience greater instability as alcohol disrupts sleep, medication routines, relationships, and nervous-system regulation. Effective treatment evaluates alcohol use and mental health together instead of assuming one concern must be completely resolved before the other can be addressed.
Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous, particularly after frequent or heavy drinking. Symptoms may include shaking, sweating, nausea, insomnia, agitation, anxiety, a racing heart, hallucinations, or seizures, and severe cases can become life-threatening. A person who may be physically dependent should not abruptly stop drinking without speaking with a qualified medical professional. Call 911 or seek emergency care for seizures, hallucinations, severe confusion, chest pain, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
Rainbow Hill Recovery is an outpatient treatment program and does not treat active withdrawal symptoms. People who need withdrawal management should first receive an appropriate medical evaluation and complete any recommended medically supervised care before beginning outpatient programming. This distinction protects client safety because withdrawal management and ongoing addiction treatment serve different purposes. Once a person is medically stable, outpatient treatment can focus on the behavioral, emotional, relational, and practical work of recovery.
Alcohol addiction treatment is not limited to one method or one definition of recovery. Evidence-based care may include behavioral therapy, medication for AUD when clinically appropriate, psychiatric support, recovery education, mutual-support groups, and continuing care. NIAAA recognizes behavioral treatment, FDA-approved medications, mutual support, or combinations of these approaches as established options for treating AUD. The appropriate plan depends on symptom severity, withdrawal risk, medical needs, mental health, living environment, recovery history, and personal goals.
At Rainbow Hill Recovery, care begins with understanding what alcohol has been doing for the person as well as what it has been taking away. Our addiction and mental health treatment programs include a Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, Outpatient Program, and Virtual IOP for adults who are appropriate for outpatient care. Depending on the program and clinical plan, services may include individual therapy, group therapy, case management, addiction education, relapse-prevention work, psychiatric support, and medication evaluation. The level of structure is matched to the client’s needs rather than applying the same schedule or treatment intensity to everyone.
Therapy helps clients identify the situations, emotions, beliefs, relationships, and routines that contribute to drinking. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help a person recognize unhelpful thought patterns, practice alternative responses, and build strategies for cravings and high-risk situations. Dialectical Behavior Therapy may support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Relapse-prevention work helps clients recognize warning signs early and create a specific response before a difficult moment becomes a return to harmful alcohol use.
Our therapy approaches may also include trauma-informed care, EMDR, experiential therapy, integrative practices, individual counseling, group work, and psychiatric services based on clinical need. Trauma-informed care emphasizes emotional and physical safety while avoiding methods that shame, pressure, or recreate feelings of powerlessness. Experiential and integrative methods can help clients explore emotions, reconnect with the body, practice mindfulness, and develop healthier responses to stress. Medication may also be evaluated by a qualified prescriber and coordinated with behavioral treatment when clinically appropriate.
Recovery continues beyond the first weeks of reduced or discontinued alcohol use. Clients may need to rebuild routines, repair relationships, address physical health concerns, develop supportive communities, practice boundaries, and prepare for situations where alcohol may be present. A continuing-care plan can identify personal warning signs, coping actions, supportive contacts, mental health follow-up, and steps to take following a lapse. Recovery is not measured only by avoiding alcohol but also by creating a life that makes continued change more sustainable.
Rainbow Hill Recovery’s aftercare and ongoing recovery support may include continued therapy, support groups, regular check-ins, relapse-prevention education, accountability, and community connection. These services help clients continue practicing the skills developed during more structured programming. Ongoing support may also make it easier to address stress, isolation, relationship changes, or renewed cravings before they grow into larger problems. Reaching out quickly after a difficult experience is a sign of recovery awareness rather than failure.
Rainbow Hill Recovery may be a strong fit for someone who needs structured outpatient alcohol addiction treatment that addresses substance use together with mental health, trauma, relationships, and personal experiences. We offer multiple outpatient levels of care, individualized planning, therapy, psychiatric support, medication evaluation, relapse-prevention education, and continuing recovery support. Our program serves adults who are medically stable and able to participate safely in outpatient services while living outside a treatment facility.
Recovery does not require waiting until alcohol has caused every possible consequence. An assessment can clarify the severity of the problem, identify co-occurring concerns, and determine whether outpatient treatment is an appropriate next step. Rainbow Hill Recovery combines clinical structure with compassion, respect, and practical support so clients can work toward meaningful change. Call (310) 341-4887 to speak with our team about alcohol addiction treatment in Los Angeles.
Joie Gyondla serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Clinical Support Coordinator, bringing compassion, empathy, and a genuine commitment to supporting every client who walks through our doors. With a background in recovery support, Joie understands the importance of creating a welcoming, organized, and affirming environment where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported throughout their treatment journey.
Working closely with both clients and the clinical team, Joie helps ensure that each person’s experience is as seamless as possible, providing encouragement, guidance, and practical support every step of the way. Her calm presence and dedication to helping others foster a sense of safety and connection that allows clients to focus on what matters most: their recovery.
Joie believes that healing begins with compassion and that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference. She is proud to be part of the Rainbow Hill Recovery team, helping create a community where every individual is empowered to build a healthier, more authentic future.
Co-Founder of the LGBTQ+ Association for Addiction and Mental Health Professionals Clinical Outreach Specialist for Rainbow Hill Recovery LGBTQ Sensitivity Training Consultant
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Program and Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Janae Borrego serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Cross-Cultural Relations Officer and Outpatient Therapist, where she combines her clinical expertise with a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, culturally responsive environment for every client. Her ability to understand, appreciate, and navigate diverse cultural perspectives has made her an invaluable leader as Rainbow Hill continues to grow and evolve.
In her role, Janae works to strengthen cultural understanding throughout the organization, ensuring that clients, families, and staff feel respected, heard, and represented. She provides ongoing guidance on cultural sensitivity and inclusive practices while helping shape programs that honor the unique identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences of those we serve.
As an Outpatient Therapist, Janae is dedicated to helping clients navigate recovery, mental health, and life’s challenges with compassion, authenticity, and evidence-based care. She believes that meaningful healing begins when individuals feel safe to show up as their authentic selves and receive support that acknowledges the whole person.
Janae is passionate about creating spaces where diversity is celebrated, connection is strengthened, and every individual has the opportunity to heal and thrive. Her leadership continues to advance Rainbow Hill Recovery’s mission of providing affirming, trauma-informed care that meets the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
With over a decade of experience in addiction recovery, Andrew is passionate about helping individuals reclaim their lives and find lasting healing. As Co-founder and Director of Rainbow Hill Recovery, he is dedicated to creating a supportive environment that fosters hope, resilience, and transformation.
Joey Bachrach is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rainbow Hill Recovery, an LGBTQ-affirming mental health and substance use treatment center in Los Angeles. Drawing from both professional leadership and lived recovery experience, Joey is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where individuals are fully seen, affirmed, and supported on their healing journey.