Substance Abuse & Mental Health

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The Glendale Police Department Wellness & Substance Abuse Resource Program

A part of the Community Outreach Resources and Engagement Bureau (CORE), the mission of this program is to provide accessible mental health and substance abuse support and resources to strengthen children, youth, families, and communities. It envisions a healthy community built on healthy individuals and families.

The program's goals include, but are not limited to, (1) empowering youth and families, (2) raising awareness about alcohol and substance use/abuse, (3) providing psychoeducation specific to substance abuse, (4) decreasing stigma associated with addiction, and (5) reaching out to individuals who have been arrested with any narcotics/mental health-related charges.

Sona Hovsepian, MSW, LCSW is the clinical program director of the Substance Abuse and Wellness Resource Program and can be reached at SHovsepian@GlendaleCA.gov and 747-488-6921.

Mental Health Resources

The Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET) is a partnership between the Glendale Police Department and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to provide crisis intervention and follow-up services in order to save lives.

Through their work, MHET members provide meaningful resources, helping to reduce calls for service. The team consists of one full time police officer and one clinician, a psychologist from the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health.

Consider using the following resources to support yourself or someone you know who may be require mental health assistance:

National Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24 hours/7 days a week, at 1-800-273-8255

Suicide Prevention Center and Survivor Hotline, for LA County callers, available 24 hours/7 days a week at 1-877-727-4747

ACCESS Mental Health urgent and non-emergency help line available at 1-800-854-7771 and dmh.lacounty.gov

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) available at 1-800-950-6264 and by texting "NAMI" to 741741. Also available at www.nami.org.

Didi Hirsch in LA County available at 1-888-807-7250, and in Orange County at (714) 547-0885. Also available at didihirsch.org.

Mental health resources for youth are available through the California Health and Human Services Agency at chhs.ca.gov/youthresources/

More information about mental health can be found on the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's website samhsa.gov/mental-health

CARE Court is a compassionate civil court process that provides participants with a clinically appropriate, community-based set of services and supports that are culturally and linguistically competent. Learn more about eligibility at chhs.ca.gov/care-act/

Substance Abuse Resources

Narco Community Outreach 2 The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.

SAMHSA provides information about the medications used in opioid treatment and a treatment services locator. Learn more at SAMHSA.gov.

If you're looking for a treatment services for yourself or a loved one, consider asking any treatment facility you contact the following questions:

What level of treatment is available at your facility (i.e., residential, day, intensive outpatient, continuing care)?
What experience and credentials do the treatment staff have at your facility? Do you have licensed clinicians? Peers? A medical director on site and clinical staff as part of the treatment team?
What does a typical day of treatment look like? What types of groups and supports are offered? How much “free” time do patients have throughout treatment?
Are there groups offered for families and loved ones (i.e., co-dependency, multi-family, couples, etc.)?
Do you have 12-step support groups at your facility? If no, are patients given opportunities to attend 12-step support groups while in treatment?
When are family visiting hours?
Do patients sign a contract when they come for treatment?
How does your treatment team respond to a relapse, should it happen while the patient is in treatment? Are they allowed to continue your program or are they immediately discharged from the program?
What medications can I bring into the facility?
What can I and can I not bring into the facility?
When can I get an appointment? Do you provide transportation to your facility?
Is the facility smoke-free?

The facility may also ask you questions. Be prepared to answer the following questions when contacting a treatment facility:

Are you calling for yourself or someone else? If it is not for yourself, they may ask to speak with the patient.
What insurance do you have?
What is your substance use history and when was your last use?
What are your current medical and mental health conditions?
What is your history of substance use disorder treatment? Is this your first-time seeing treatment?

Treatment services are available to individuals without income and/or health insurance through the State of California. For additional information, contact the California Department of Health Care Services, Behavioral Health Services section at (916) 322-7445 or by visiting dhcs.ca.gov/services.

Additionally, most hospitals have a substance abuse navigator who can assist in locating treatment services.

Contact Janelle Ito-Orille to reach the California State Opioid Treatment Authority in the California Department of Health Care Services Behavioral Health - Licensing and Certification. Ito-Orille can be reached at janelle.ito-orille@dhcs.ca.gov or (916) 345-7587

CARE Court is an additional substance abuse service. The service is a compassionate civil court process that provides participants with a clinically appropriate, community-based set of services and supports that are culturally and linguistically competent. Learn more about eligibility at chhs.ca.gov/care-act/

Alcohol Abuse Resources

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Learn more about 988 by watching the video below.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.

The Suicide Prevention Center and Survivor Hotline, for LA County callers, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-877-727-4747.

The Youth Crisis Line, a statewide emergency response system for youth ages 12-24 and families in crisis, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone call or text at 1-800-843-5200.

Resources for Individuals and Families Experiencing Homelessness

If you're experiencing homelessness and have a family

Contact or visit the Family solutions Center at LA Family Housing for assessment.

Phone: 211 or (818) 255-2766
Address: 7817 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

If you're an individual experiencing homelessness

Contact or visit the Individual Solutions Center at LA Family Housing for assessment.

Phone: (818) 255-2703
Address: 7843 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

If you're a youth, ages 14-24, experiencing homelessness

Contact or visit the Village Family Services - TAY Drop-in Center.

Phone: (818) 755-8786
Address: 6801 Coldwater Canyon, Ste. #1E, North Hollywood, CA
Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 5p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Resources for Veterans

Community Outreach & Partnerships

Narco Community Outreach 1 The Substance Abuse & Wellness Resource Program is in the community, speaking with Glendale residents, including parents and students, about accessing available wellness and substance abuse resources and the threat of misusing and/or abusing legal and illegal substances.

Glendale Police Narcotics Detectives and the Program's Clinical Director regularly deliver presentations to community groups and schools. Presentations have been delivered at:

USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
Roosevelt Middle School
Glendale Police Community Room (via Homenetmen Glendale Ararat)
Daily High School (during Red Ribbon Week)
And More! (more locations to be listed soon)

Fentanyl is a killer

Fentanyl overdoses in Glendale increased by more than 400% between 2020 and 2022. Deaths caused by fentanyl are also rising. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, learn how you can make a difference by reviewing the resources on this page. If you know someone who may be in danger of an overdose, call 818-548-4911.