Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) Alcohol/Drug Treatment Program

UPAC offers a rare combination for a community-based substance use treatment center: medical detox alongside both standard outpatient and intensive outpatient programs (IOP). For people beginning their recovery journey, the ability to move from medically supervised detox into structured outpatient programming at the same organization reduces the friction — and the risk of dropout — that comes with transitioning between providers.

The intensive outpatient program is designed for individuals who need more clinical structure than a basic outpatient schedule provides, without requiring the commitment of residential treatment. This level of care is a strong fit for people managing work, family, or other community obligations while prioritizing their recovery.

A significant share of people entering addiction treatment are also managing untreated or undertreated mental health conditions. UPAC formally addresses this reality by treating co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis as part of its core substance abuse treatment model. Trauma and PTSD are also listed conditions treated at the facility — an important detail for clients whose substance use is connected to unresolved trauma.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) anchors the clinical work at UPAC. CBT is well-suited to both substance use disorders and the co-occurring mental health conditions UPAC treats, giving clients practical, skills-based tools they can use throughout long-term recovery — not just during the acute treatment phase.

UPAC serves a deliberately broad range of people in the San Diego recovery community. Men, women, and young adults ages 18 to 25 are all served, as are court-ordered individuals who may be entering treatment for the first time. Notably, UPAC is one of the few addiction treatment centers in San Diego County that explicitly serves Deaf and hard of hearing individuals — a population that faces substantial barriers to accessing standard rehab and outpatient programs.

On the financial side, UPAC accepts Medicaid, state insurance, self-pay, and sliding scale fees. This payment structure is especially relevant for community members who lack private employer insurance but are committed to pursuing outpatient treatment and longer-term recovery support. The center's Monday-through-Friday schedule and San Diego location on College Avenue make it accessible for clients who are integrating recovery into their daily lives.

UPAC is located at 3539 College Avenue, Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92115. The center operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Whether someone is exploring outpatient options for the first time, looking to step down from a higher level of care, or seeking a recovery center that has experience with dual diagnosis and trauma, UPAC is worth a direct conversation.

To learn more about the medical detox, outpatient program, or intensive outpatient program at UPAC, contact the center at (619) 818-3788 or visit upacsd.com. Sliding scale fees and Medicaid acceptance mean that cost does not have to be a barrier to starting the work of recovery.