Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC)

Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC) is a substance use treatment facility located at 3539 College Avenue Suite 110 in San Diego, California. Operating within the San Diego County area, UPAC provides structured clinical services for adults dealing with substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, and trauma or PTSD. The facility is reachable at (619) 818-3788 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

UPAC’s levels of care span from medical detox through outpatient programming. For individuals whose withdrawal requires clinical oversight, the facility offers medical detox — the foundational level of care for anyone beginning treatment after physical dependence. Following or alongside detox, clients may step into an outpatient program or an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which provides a higher frequency of structured sessions while allowing clients to live outside a residential setting. Having all three levels under one provider allows for continuity as a client’s clinical needs change.

Clinically, UPAC incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a core therapeutic method. The program also addresses co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis, recognizing that substance use frequently intersects with mental health conditions. Trauma and PTSD are explicitly treated, which distinguishes UPAC from programs that focus on substance use in isolation.

UPAC serves men, women, and young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, and the program is accessible to individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing — an inclusion that is uncommon in the treatment landscape. Court-ordered clients are also accepted. On the financial side, UPAC accepts Medicaid, state insurance, self-pay, and sliding scale fees, making medical detox and outpatient services accessible to people who may not carry private insurance.

For individuals facing physical dependence, UPAC's medical detox program provides a clinically supervised starting point before outpatient treatment begins. Medical detox is the appropriate first step when withdrawal from substances carries health risks that require monitoring and intervention. UPAC offers this level of care at its San Diego location on College Avenue, giving clients in the area access to withdrawal management without needing to travel out of the county.

What sets UPAC apart from standalone detox facilities is the direct pathway into outpatient and intensive outpatient programming following detox. Rather than discharging clients after the acute withdrawal phase ends, UPAC maintains continuity by offering all three levels of care under the same provider. Families researching detox options for a loved one should note that UPAC accepts Medicaid and state insurance in addition to self-pay and sliding scale arrangements, reducing one of the most common barriers to starting medical detox promptly.

After completing medical detox, clients at UPAC can transition directly into an outpatient program or intensive outpatient program (IOP). The IOP level involves a more structured weekly schedule than standard outpatient care, making it appropriate for individuals who need significant clinical support but do not require round-the-clock residential placement. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used as part of the therapeutic framework across programming.

Both the outpatient and IOP tracks address co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis — meaning mental health conditions are treated alongside substance use rather than deferred to a separate provider. Trauma and PTSD are specifically listed as conditions treated, which is relevant for clients whose substance use is intertwined with a history of traumatic experience. This integrated approach to co-occurring conditions is a defining clinical feature of UPAC's programming.

UPAC's substance use treatment programs are open to men, women, and young adults ages 18 to 25. The facility also serves individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and court-ordered clients are accepted — two populations that frequently encounter barriers at other treatment programs. This range of accepted populations reflects a deliberate effort to serve community members who may face logistical or institutional obstacles to accessing detox and outpatient care.

The facility is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can be reached directly at (619) 818-3788. Payment options include Medicaid, state insurance, self-pay, and a sliding scale fee structure. For individuals or families weighing same-day decisions about medical detox or withdrawal management in the San Diego area, UPAC's combination of clinical levels, accessible payment options, and inclusive admissions criteria makes it a substantive option worth contacting directly.

Substance use disorders rarely occur without accompanying mental health conditions, and UPAC's clinical programming is built with that reality in mind. The facility explicitly treats co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis, meaning clients who arrive at detox or outpatient care with depression, anxiety, trauma histories, or other mental health presentations are not turned away or referred elsewhere for those concerns.

Trauma and PTSD are identified conditions within UPAC's treatment scope, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the confirmed therapeutic method used to address these intersecting issues. For family members trying to identify a detox program for a loved one with both substance use and mental health needs, UPAC's dual diagnosis capability is a clinically meaningful differentiator from programs that treat substance use in isolation.