New Substance Use Treatment Center Will Expand Care in South Bay

September 25, 2026

San Diego County officials inaugurated a new $29 million behavioral health facility in National City that uniquely combines substance abuse treatment with medical recuperative services in a single location. The center will provide 73 beds for round-the-clock residential substance use treatment and 16 beds for short-term medical recovery for individuals who lack safe places to heal, with capacity to serve approximately 670 people annually. This represents the county's first integrated facility of its kind, renovated from a vacant county building with modern systems and therapeutic design features including outdoor healing spaces and energy-efficient infrastructure.

Who is affected

Adults with substance use disorders in San Diego County
People recovering from illness or injury who have no safe place to heal
Patients with co-occurring conditions
Approximately 503 people annually receiving residential care
Approximately 167 people annually receiving recuperative care
Nearly 900,000 Medi-Cal recipients in the region
Paradise Valley Hospital (referral source)

What action is being taken

The County of San Diego is opening the SURTS center this fall
New Creation Behavioral Healthcare Foundation is operating the facility
The center is providing 24-hour care for substance use disorders
The center is providing short-term medical support through recuperative care beds
Services include withdrawal management, medication management, and care coordination
The facility is receiving referrals directly from Paradise Valley Hospital and other places

Why it matters

This facility represents a significant advancement in behavioral health care delivery by integrating substance use treatment with medical recuperative services, eliminating the gap that previously existed when patients left hospitals after overdose or injury. The integrated approach is expected to reduce future emergency room visits, lower relapse risk, prevent homelessness, and decrease overall healthcare costs. By adding 89 beds specifically for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and supporting smoother transitions back into the community, it addresses a critical need for San Diego County's nearly 900,000 Medi-Cal recipients who require behavioral health services.

What's next

A Children's Crisis Residential Care facility in Kearny Mesa (upcoming project)
An Acute Psychiatric Hospital in Santee (upcoming project)
The Behavioral Health Wellness Campus in the Midway district (upcoming project)

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint