Opioid addiction treatment helps people address drug use that has become difficult to control and harmful to their health, relationships, safety, or daily functioning. Opioids include prescription pain medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and fentanyl, as well as illegal opioids such as heroin. Although these substances differ in potency and medical purpose, they act on opioid receptors in the brain and can produce pain relief, relaxation, euphoria, physical dependence, and dangerous respiratory depression. At Rainbow Hill Recovery, we provide structured outpatient opioid addiction treatment in Los Angeles for adults who are medically stable and ready to work toward meaningful recovery.
Opioid addiction is clinically known as opioid use disorder, or OUD. The condition involves a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes significant distress, impairment, or continued harm. Someone may lose control over how much they use, experience persistent cravings, or continue taking opioids despite medical, emotional, occupational, financial, or relationship consequences. The diagnosis is based on the overall pattern of behavior rather than one prescription, one episode of misuse, or the presence of withdrawal alone.
Opioid use disorder can range from mild to severe depending on the number of recognized symptoms occurring during a 12-month period. Federal survey data estimated that approximately 4.8 million people aged 12 or older had OUD in 2024. Among people whose disorder involved heroin use or prescription opioid misuse, 37.1% had a severe disorder and 42.4% had a mild disorder. These figures demonstrate that opioid-related problems affect millions of people and may exist at different levels of severity long before a fatal or life-changing event occurs.
Opioids attach to receptors in areas of the brain and body involved in pain, pleasure, stress, and breathing. They can reduce pain and create feelings of calm or euphoria, which may strongly reinforce continued use. Repeated exposure can change how the brain responds to both the opioid and ordinary sources of reward, making other activities feel less satisfying. As the brain and body adapt, someone may require more of the substance to experience the effect that a smaller amount once produced.
Opioids can also slow breathing, particularly when a dose is stronger than expected or combined with other depressants. If breathing becomes too slow or stops, the brain and other organs may be deprived of oxygen, causing permanent injury or death. This danger is especially serious with illicit fentanyl because a very small amount can produce powerful effects. The strength and contents of an illegally manufactured pill or powder cannot be reliably determined by its appearance.
There is no single cause of opioid addiction, and developing OUD is not a sign of weak character or insufficient willpower. Risk may be influenced by genetics, family history, trauma, mental health symptoms, chronic pain, repeated opioid exposure, social environment, financial pressure, unstable housing, and access to drugs. Some people first encounter opioids through treatment for surgery, an injury, or ongoing pain, while others begin by using pills recreationally or taking medication obtained from another person. The path into addiction can therefore look very different from one client to another.
Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, grief, loneliness, and unresolved emotional pain may also contribute to continued opioid use. Someone may initially take an opioid for physical pain but discover that it temporarily reduces fear, sadness, shame, or distress as well. The relief is temporary, and the consequences of use can eventually worsen the same emotional and practical concerns the person was trying to escape. Effective treatment examines what opioids have been doing for the person as well as what the use has been taking away.
Environmental factors can strengthen the cycle. Living with people who use opioids, having regular access to prescription medications, experiencing financial instability, or spending time in settings where drug use is common can make change more difficult. Relationship conflict, unemployment, legal concerns, isolation, and repeated exposure to overdose may further increase stress and cravings. Treatment must address these conditions alongside the substance use rather than expecting willpower alone to overcome them.
Opioid addiction may develop gradually, and the early warning signs are sometimes mistaken for stress, depression, chronic pain, or medication side effects. A person may continue working, attending school, or caring for family members while privately struggling with cravings and withdrawal. Other people may notice changes in alertness, reliability, mood, finances, or behavior before the person recognizes the severity of the problem. A qualified assessment considers the complete pattern rather than relying on appearance or one isolated symptom.
Common signs of opioid use disorder may include:
Not everyone with OUD will display every sign. One person may appear frequently drowsy or sedated, while another may seem outwardly functional but become intensely anxious whenever medication is unavailable. Additional signs may include pinpoint pupils, slurred speech, secrecy, unexplained financial problems, changing social groups, declining personal care, or repeated absences. The pattern becomes especially concerning when opioid use continues despite clear evidence that it is damaging the person’s health, safety, relationships, or ability to function.
Tolerance develops when repeated opioid exposure causes the body to respond less strongly to the same amount. A person may begin taking larger doses, using opioids more frequently, or changing how the substance is consumed to achieve a stronger effect. Tolerance increases overdose risk because the difference between the desired effect and a dangerous dose may become difficult to judge. Illicit products create additional uncertainty because their strength and ingredients can vary from one dose to the next.
Physical dependence means the body has adapted to the opioid and may experience withdrawal if use is reduced or stopped. Dependence can develop during medically supervised opioid treatment and does not automatically mean someone has an addiction. Addiction generally includes compulsive use, loss of control, cravings, and continued behavior despite harmful consequences. Someone may have dependence, addiction, or both, which is why treatment planning should begin with an individualized medical and behavioral assessment.
Opioid withdrawal can occur when someone who has become physically dependent suddenly stops or substantially reduces use. Symptoms may include anxiety, agitation, sweating, yawning, watery eyes, a runny nose, muscle aches, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, and intense cravings. The timing and severity can vary according to the specific opioid, dosage, duration of use, overall health, and whether other substances are involved. Withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable and may lead someone back to opioid use simply to stop the symptoms.
Rainbow Hill Recovery provides outpatient mental health and substance use care rather than acute medical detoxification. Anyone experiencing significant withdrawal should receive an appropriate medical evaluation before entering routine outpatient programming. Medical professionals can assess dehydration, pregnancy, co-occurring conditions, other substance use, and whether medication or a higher level of care is needed. Once medically stable, the person can be evaluated for ongoing outpatient therapy, relapse prevention, medication management, and recovery support.
Opioid overdose occurs when the substance suppresses breathing and other vital functions. Warning signs can include an inability to wake the person, slow or stopped breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, a limp body, cold or clammy skin, discolored lips or fingernails, and very small pupils. An overdose is always a medical emergency, even when the exact substance is unknown. Call 911 immediately, administer naloxone when available, and remain with the person until emergency responders arrive.
Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, including overdoses involving heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids. It is safe, is not addictive, and is commonly available as a nasal spray. More than one dose may sometimes be needed, particularly when potent opioids are involved, and emergency medical assistance is still necessary after the person responds. Families, roommates, partners, and people who use opioids should know where naloxone is kept and how to administer it.
Although national overdose deaths have declined, the risk remains substantial. CDC provisional data released in May 2026 estimated that opioid-involved overdose deaths decreased from 55,296 in 2024 to 44,564 in 2025. The decline represents important progress, but tens of thousands of opioid-related deaths continue to occur each year. These figures support the need for early treatment, naloxone access, overdose education, and continuing care after periods of abstinence or reduced use.
Behavioral therapy helps clients understand the thoughts, emotions, environments, and routines connected to opioid use. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can support the identification of automatic thinking patterns and the development of healthier responses to cravings, stress, and social pressure. Dialectical Behavior Therapy may help clients strengthen emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and relationship skills. Trauma-informed therapy may also be appropriate when painful experiences contribute to emotional avoidance, hypervigilance, isolation, or continued drug use.
At Rainbow Hill Recovery, treatment may include individual therapy, group therapy, case management, psychiatry services, relapse-prevention education, and structured skill development. Available approaches include DBT, EMDR and trauma-informed care, experiential therapy, and integrative practices. The treatment plan can also address depression, anxiety, trauma, sleep problems, relationship difficulties, and other concerns affecting recovery. Addressing opioid use and mental health together may provide a stronger foundation than treating them as unrelated issues.
Rainbow Hill Recovery offers a Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, Outpatient Program, and Virtual IOP for adults who are clinically appropriate for outpatient care. PHP provides the greatest amount of daily outpatient structure, while IOP offers regular therapeutic programming with more independence outside treatment hours. OP may be suitable for clients who need flexible continuing support or are transitioning from a more structured program. Virtual IOP can provide structured treatment from home when telehealth is appropriate for the client’s safety, needs, and living situation.
Placement is based on medical stability, overdose risk, withdrawal needs, mental health symptoms, opioid-use severity, living conditions, responsibilities, and available support. Outpatient care is not appropriate for someone who is experiencing an active overdose, serious withdrawal complications, severe psychiatric instability, or an inability to meet basic safety needs. Those situations may require emergency treatment, medical stabilization, or another higher level of care first. Once stable, the person can transition into outpatient programming for therapy, medication support, relapse prevention, and ongoing recovery planning.
Opioid cravings can be triggered by physical pain, anxiety, depression, conflict, insomnia, specific people, familiar locations, money, prescription bottles, or memories of past use. Relapse-prevention planning helps clients recognize early warning signs and decide what they will do before cravings become overwhelming. A practical plan may include supportive contacts, treatment appointments, coping techniques, medication routines, naloxone access, and steps to take after a lapse. Practicing these responses during treatment makes them easier to use during stressful situations in everyday life.
Aftercare is especially important because recovery continues after a more intensive phase of treatment ends. Rainbow Hill Recovery’s aftercare may include regular check-ins, ongoing therapy, support groups, relapse-prevention education, life-skills resources, and connections to continuing support. These services give clients a place to address renewed cravings, mental health symptoms, pain, relationship changes, or other challenges before they grow into larger problems. A lapse does not erase previous progress, but it should be taken seriously because reduced tolerance can increase overdose risk when opioid use resumes.
Rainbow Hill Recovery provides structured outpatient care for adults who need support addressing opioid use alongside mental health, trauma, relationships, and daily responsibilities. Our available programs allow treatment intensity to be matched to the client’s clinical stability, symptoms, strengths, schedule, and recovery goals. Clients may receive individual and group therapy, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric support, case management, relapse-prevention education, and personalized aftercare planning. This coordinated approach addresses both the immediate pattern of opioid use and the underlying conditions that may make continued recovery difficult.
Someone does not need to wait for an overdose, job loss, damaged relationship, or another severe crisis before asking for help. An assessment can clarify the severity of the opioid use, identify co-occurring mental health concerns, determine whether medical stabilization is needed, and establish which outpatient program may be appropriate. Rainbow Hill Recovery combines evidence-based treatment, medication support, trauma-informed care, practical recovery education, and continuing services in one supportive outpatient setting. Call (310) 341-4887 to speak with our Los Angeles team about opioid addiction treatment and the next appropriate step.
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.