ABC Sober Living LLC
810 Emerald Street, San Diego, CA 92109
Way Back
Address: 2516 A Street, San Diego, CA 92102 · Map
Phone: (619) 235-0592
Intake: (619) 703-6338
Website: thewaybacksd.org
About Way Back
The Way Back provides supportive residential care for adult men who are working through substance use disorders along with related mental health concerns. The 24-bed program collaborates with San Diego County Behavioral Health Services and offers a structured, substance-free setting where residents can build lasting stability through personalized treatment and peer connection. The Way Back uses a holistic, research-informed model that supports recovery through personal development and emotional steadiness. Residents participate in clinical and educational groups, mindfulness practices, yoga, skills for emotional regulation, and relapse prevention programming. In addition, they receive one-on-one therapy and individualized treatment planning. With guidance from counselors, 12-Step programming, and SMART Recovery, along with non-12 Step options, clients learn practical tools to cope with emotions, develop healthier routines, and reconnect with a meaningful future. Through staff support and an emphasis on shared accountability, The Way Back helps residents stay focused and continue making progress. Men living at The Way Back stay in a shared, home-like environment with access to common areas and encouraging relationships with peers. The center includes shared bedrooms and bathrooms, nutritious meals, and inviting indoor and outdoor spaces for rest and group activities. Situated in central San Diego, it also helps coordinate transportation for eligible participants, making treatment more accessible to those who need it.
Services reported to SAMHSA
- Levels of care
- Residential/24-hour residential · Residential detoxification · Long-term residential
- Treatment focus
- Substance use treatment · Detoxification · Treatment for co-occurring disorders plus serious mental illness (SMI) in adults
- Detox services
- Alcohol Detoxification · Benzodiazepines Detoxification · Cocaine Detoxification · Methamphetamines detoxification · Opioids detoxification · Medication routinely used during detoxification
- Opioid treatment
- Accepts clients using MAT but prescribed elsewhere
- Treatment approaches
- Anger management · Brief intervention · Cognitive behavioral therapy · Motivational interviewing · Relapse prevention · Substance use disorder counseling · Trauma-related counseling
- Education and counseling
- HIV or AIDS education, counseling, or support · Hepatitis education, counseling, or support · Health education services other than HIV/AIDS or hepatitis · Substance use disorder education · Smoking/vaping/tobacco cessation counseling · Individual counseling · Group counseling · Family counseling · Marital/couples counseling
- Special programs
- Young adults · Adult men · Seniors or older adults · Veterans · Active duty military · Members of military families · Criminal justice (other than DUI/DWI)/Forensic clients · Clients with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders · Clients with co-occurring pain and substance use disorders · Clients with HIV or AIDS · Clients who have experienced sexual abuse · Clients who have experienced intimate partner violence, domestic violence · Clients who have experienced trauma
- Ages accepted
- Young Adults · Adults · Seniors
- Genders accepted
- Male
- Payment accepted
- Medicaid · State-financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid
- Payment assistance
- Payment assistance (check with facility for details)
- Licensing and accreditation
- State substance use treatment agency · Council on Accreditation (COA)
- Ownership
- Private non-profit organization
- Recovery support
- Self-help groups · Housing services · Assistance with obtaining social services · Mentoring/peer support · Employment counseling or training
- Transitional services
- Aftercare/continuing care · Discharge Planning · Naloxone and overdose education · Outcome follow-up after discharge
- Other services
- Case management service · Domestic violence services, including family or partner · Mental health services · Social skills development · Transportation assistance
- Language services
- Spanish · Other languages (excluding Spanish)
- Other languages
- Tagalog
Facility-provided information
- Care offered
- Residential Rehab · Co-Occurring Mental Health
- Substances treated
- Alcohol · Co-Occurring Disorders · Cocaine · Drug Addiction · Heroin · Methamphetamine · Opioids · Prescription Drugs · Synthetic Drugs
- Conditions treated
- Anger · Anxiety · Codependency · Depression
- Therapies
- 1-on-1 Counseling · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy · Family Therapy · Group Therapy · Meditation & Mindfulness · Narrative Therapy · Psychoeducation · Spiritual Care · Twelve Step Facilitation
- Approaches
- Evidence-Based · Gender-Specific · Holistic · Individual Treatment
- Who it serves
- Men · Men Only
- Aftercare
- Continuing Care · Discharge Planning · Employment Counseling · Relapse Prevention Planning · Self-Help Groups · Support Meetings
- Amenities
- Access to Nature
- Languages
- English · Spanish
Questions to ask Way Back
- Is my specific plan in network, and do you need prior authorization before admission?
- Do you provide medical detox on site, and how many days does it usually last?
- How long is the typical residential stay, and can family visit?
- If I need medication for opioid or alcohol use disorder, do you prescribe it or refer out?
- Do you treat mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety at the same time?
- Is there a waitlist, and how soon can you do an assessment?
Also confirm the facility is licensed by California (this facility reports accreditation). If you are withdrawing from alcohol or benzodiazepines, ask about medical detox; do not stop suddenly on your own.
Paying for treatment at Way Back
Way Back reports accepting Medicaid, Sliding scale. With California Medicaid, treatment is usually covered at little or no cost, though some levels of care need prior authorization. Most private plans must cover substance use treatment on terms comparable to other medical care under federal parity law. A sliding fee scale is available, so bring proof of income.
Distance to specialized care from San Diego
Measured from the population center of San Diego County, using SAMHSA locator data mapped by FindRehabMap:
- Nearest medical detox: San Diego, about 3.9 miles
- Nearest methadone clinic (OTP): San Diego, about 3.9 miles (15 within 25 miles)
- Nearest buprenorphine (Suboxone) provider: San Diego, about 3.9 miles (46 within 25 miles)
See the San Diego County treatment map, methadone clinics near San Diego County and Suboxone doctors near San Diego County.
Frequently asked questions
What services does Way Back offer?
Way Back reports these levels of care to SAMHSA: Detox, Residential, Dual diagnosis. Call to confirm current services and openings.
Does Way Back accept insurance?
It reports accepting Medicaid, Sliding scale. Ask whether your specific plan is in network before admission.
Where is Way Back located?
2516 A Street, San Diego, CA 92102.
How far is the nearest medical detox from San Diego?
From the center of San Diego County, the closest program offering medical detox is in San Diego, about 3.9 miles away (straight-line), based on SAMHSA locator data mapped by FindRehabMap.
Other treatment facilities in San Diego
ABC Sober Living LLC
810 Emerald Street, San Diego, CA 92109
AKUA Mind Body - Detox Addiction Treatment San Diego
3025 Reynard Way, San Diego, CA 92103
AKUA Strong - San Diego
1784 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
Alter Behavioral Health - San Diego
4850 67th Street, Suite 90, San Diego, CA 92115
Alvarado Parkway Institute
5538 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105
See all 134 facilities in San Diego · Detox · Residential · Outpatient · Intensive outpatient · MAT · Methadone
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Facility details come from SAMHSA's FindTreatment.gov locator and facility-provided information. Confirm services, availability and payment directly with the facility.