North County Report: More Detox Beds Are on the Way 

More detox beds are coming to Escondido, a vital addition amid the region’s ongoing shortage. 

The Escondido City Council last week approved an expansion of detox services proposed by nonprofit homeless services provider Interfaith Community Services. Supporters say the new detox beds, or withdrawal-management beds, are a much-needed addition to the city and to North County, which has high demand for drug treatment services and not enough supply. 

Escondido has the highest rates of overdoses for methamphetamine and fentanyl and one of the highest overdose rates for Opioids in North County, according to recent data from the Substance Use Overdose Prevention Task Force, a countywide coalition that includes health care officials and law enforcement. 

Interfaith plans to expand its existing 10 detox beds to 32 beds with help from a $12-million grant from San Diego County.   

“The reality today is that help is not immediately available,” said Interfaith CEO Greg Anglea at the Feb. 19 Council meeting. “Just today, we actually had to turn away a young man who was seeking detox because our detox program is currently full.” 

There Are Mixed Feelings About It 

Last year, Escondido leaders passed a homeless policy that indicated a shift in how the city would be addressing homelessness moving forward. It became controversial because it emphasized addiction treatment services as a primary method for addressing homelessness over housing first. 

Housing First is the statewide approach to addressing homelessness that prioritizes providing a stable home first before treatment.    

The city’s new policy was controversial, but Interfaith saw an opportunity.  

“The policy adopted by this council on homelessness draws a clear line that this city is committed to addressing and providing pathways out of addiction and out of homelessness for our residents,” Anglea said at the meeting. 

But another piece of the city’s policy is to prioritize services for homeless residents already living in Escondido, not people from other cities. That’s where some of the skepticism came in. 

Because Interfaith is using county funds for the expansion, that means the program would be open to people from throughout San Diego County, not just people from Escondido. And because there aren’t many detox beds in North County and the region, some worry the program will attract homeless people from other cities. 

The Council ultimately approved the expansion 3-2, with Councilmembers Joe Garcia and Judy Fitzgerald voting “no.” 

Garcia, Fitzgerald and some public speakers pointed out that Escondido is already home to multiple homeless shelters and homeless services, while some North County cities don’t have any shelters and provide minimal services. Allowing more detox beds in a region that is severely lacking substance abuse services could bring more homeless people to Escondido, they argued. 

Mayor Dane White, who has previously experienced homelessness and drug addiction, said during the meeting that he shares those concerns, but he believes the need outweighs that risk. 

“To me, the risk seems worth it. Currently, these people have nowhere to go to get help,” White said during the meeting. “My ultimate vision has not changed. We need an emergency shelter… to get people off the streets immediately, but in the meantime, there is no alternative.” 

Out of 200 people served with Interfaith’s existing 10 detox beds last year, 70 percent came directly from the streets of Escondido, Anglea said during the meeting. He also assured the Council that Interfaith’s outreach workers prioritize residents in Escondido, and for any clients that enter the program from another city, transportation is provided for them to go back to their city when they complete the program or choose to leave the program. 

The Region’s (Lack Of) Detox Beds 

Most residents, service providers and public officials in the region agree there is a severe shortage of substance abuse treatment programs and detox services throughout the County. 

In North County: Anglea said he’s aware of about 22 other detox beds currently available at three different locations in North County. These are The Fellowship Center in Escondido, Serenity House in Escondido and Family Recovery Center in Oceanside. 

These are facilities that can serve clients with Medi-Cal insurance. 

In San Diego County: Countywide, there are only 78 detox beds available for San Diegans with Medi-Cal insurance, Voice of San Diego previously reported. 

There are plans to open dozens of new detox beds this year in Downtown San Diego and possibly other communities, but those are still in the works. 

Currently, San Diegans with Medi-Cal insurance seeking detox or longer-term residential treatment programs often wait weeks for a bed. 

Interfaith’s detox services includes 14 days of 24/7 oversight and support for each individual to safely withdraw from drugs or alcohol. During that time, they also receive medical support, behavioral health services, and substance use disorder counseling. After the 14-day period, individuals can choose to enter a longer-term residential treatment program provided by Interfaith or another organization. 

The existing 10 detox beds served more than 200 people last year, Anglea said at the council meeting. Seventy percent of those 200 successfully completed the program and moved on to long-term treatment. 

The new beds are expected to be up and running by March 3, Anglea told Voice. 

Around Town: Arts Center Is Safe, for Now 

Things are looking up for the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. 

The Escondido council last week extended its management agreement with the arts center for another five years. 

Let’s rewind: Last year, city leaders began looking for a new entity to take over the operations and financial obligations of the California Center for the Arts to save money because of the city’s significant budget deficit. 

The city owns the arts center, which opened in 1994, but the California Center for the Arts Foundation, a nonprofit overseen by a board of directors, manages it.   

Each year, Escondido pays a monthly management fee to the foundation for the operation of the Center and pays for all gas and electric bills for the facilities, as well as some maintenance fees. Last year, the city paid around $1.9 million. 

But the city only received one proposal to take over management of the arts center and it was from the foundation that is already managing it. 

The new plan: Escondido residents passed a sales tax increase last November that is projected to bring in around $28 million per year in revenue. Now, the city has agreed to continue its management agreement with the arts center, with continued financial support, until June 30, 2027. 

In Other News 

• ICYMI: Encinitas’ new mayor, Bruce Ehlers, has been approving controversial housing developments that come before the Council, but he says he has his eyes set on changing state housing laws to bring local control back to Encinitas. (Voice of San Diego) 
• Del Mar officials were contacted by the District Attorney’s office in response to a complaint it received about Del Mar’s handling of its council vacancy. After the Council failed to agree on an appointee for the vacant seat and deadlocked on whether to proceed with a special election, the seat will now remain vacant until the November 2026 election. (Coast News) 
• Oceanside could soon allow in-store cannabis sales at up to four store fronts, expanding beyond its delivery-only model. (Union-Tribune)