Substance Use and Mental Health Evaluation in California

Substance use and mental health often overlap.

Depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar symptoms, trauma, insomnia, medication effects, and substance use can influence one another. Effective treatment starts by understanding the whole picture rather than treating each problem in isolation.

MoodClinics provides online psychiatric care for adults with substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns throughout California through secure telehealth.

For adults with opioid use disorder, the clinician must first determine the appropriate treatment setting and available options. California buprenorphine services require confirmation before booking.

Self-pay visits are $99. Confirm the visit type and fee inclusions before booking.

MoodClinics is self-pay only. There are no subscriptions or membership fees. Current California availability will be confirmed by the care team.

What Substance Use Concerns Can Be Evaluated?

MoodClinics can evaluate adults experiencing concerns involving substances such as:

• Opioids
• Fentanyl
• Heroin
• Prescription opioid medications
• Methamphetamine
• Cocaine and other stimulants
• Alcohol
• Cannabis
• Sedative medications
• Other substances

The appropriate treatment depends on the substance involved, pattern of use, withdrawal risk, psychiatric symptoms, medical history, medications, and individual circumstances.

Why Evaluate Mental Health and Substance Use Together?

Substance use does not always occur separately from psychiatric symptoms.

Some people use substances while trying to cope with:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Poor concentration
• Low energy
• Trauma-related symptoms
• Insomnia
• Emotional distress
• Medication side effects
• Other psychiatric symptoms

Substances themselves can also cause or worsen anxiety, depression, insomnia, paranoia, psychosis, mood changes, and concentration difficulties.

Understanding which symptoms came first, which occur during substance use, and which continue during periods of sobriety can be important when developing a treatment plan.

What Is Opioid Use Disorder?

Opioid use disorder is a medical condition involving a problematic pattern of opioid use that leads to significant difficulty or impairment.

It can involve prescription opioids, heroin, fentanyl, or other opioid substances.

People may experience:

• Strong cravings
• Difficulty reducing or stopping opioid use
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Increasing tolerance
• Continued use despite consequences
• Significant time spent obtaining or using opioids
• Interference with work, relationships, or responsibilities
• Repeated return to opioid use after attempts to stop

Effective medical treatments are available.

What Is Buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is a medication used in the treatment of opioid use disorder.

It can reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings and is commonly used as part of medication treatment for opioid use disorder.

Buprenorphine is available in several formulations, including products that combine buprenorphine and naloxone.

Your provider can discuss whether buprenorphine treatment may be appropriate based on your individual evaluation.

Does MoodClinics Prescribe Buprenorphine?

California buprenorphine services require confirmation with the care team. Ask the care team to confirm the service scope before seeking an appointment or transferring care. General information on this page does not establish access to treatment or a prescription.

Your provider will review factors such as:

• Current and recent opioid use
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Previous treatment
• Other medications
• Alcohol or sedative use
• Medical history
• Psychiatric symptoms
• Previous buprenorphine treatment
• Treatment goals

The treatment plan is individualized.

Can Buprenorphine Treatment Be Started Through Telehealth?

Buprenorphine treatment may be provided through telehealth when clinically appropriate and permitted by current federal and state requirements.

The provider determines whether telehealth is appropriate for the individual patient's circumstances and whether additional evaluation, monitoring, testing, records, or in-person care is needed.

Because telemedicine prescribing requirements can change, MoodClinics follows the requirements applicable at the time care is provided.

What If I Have Used Fentanyl?

Tell your provider about recent fentanyl use.

Fentanyl can make the timing and management of buprenorphine initiation more complicated because starting buprenorphine at the wrong time may cause precipitated withdrawal.

Your provider will discuss an appropriate approach based on your recent opioid use, withdrawal symptoms, previous treatment, and clinical circumstances.

What If I Am Already Taking Buprenorphine?

If you already receive buprenorphine, ask the care team whether the California service can meet your needs before transferring care. This website is not a promise to continue an existing prescription.

Your provider will review your current treatment, response, other medications, substance use, psychiatric symptoms, and clinical needs.

What About Methamphetamine or Cocaine Use?

Stimulant use can affect sleep, mood, anxiety, concentration, appetite, energy, and perception.

At the same time, some people using stimulants also have underlying psychiatric conditions such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other concerns.

MoodClinics evaluates the broader clinical picture rather than assuming that every psychiatric symptom is caused by substance use—or that substance use is unrelated to psychiatric symptoms.

Can Someone With a Substance Use History Receive ADHD Treatment?

A history of substance use does not automatically prevent someone from receiving evaluation for ADHD or other psychiatric conditions.

However, substance use is an important part of the clinical assessment and may influence diagnosis, medication selection, monitoring, and treatment planning.

The goal is to develop a treatment plan that appropriately considers both psychiatric symptoms and substance-related risks.

What If I Have Depression or Anxiety Along With Substance Use?

Co-occurring psychiatric symptoms are common and deserve appropriate evaluation.

Treatment may address depression, anxiety, mood symptoms, sleep, psychosis, ADHD, or other psychiatric concerns alongside the substance-use condition.

The appropriate sequence and combination of treatments depend on the individual patient's clinical circumstances.

Does MoodClinics Provide Detoxification?

MoodClinics is an outpatient telehealth psychiatric practice, not a medical detoxification facility.

Some types of withdrawal—particularly severe alcohol or sedative withdrawal—can be medically dangerous and may require urgent or inpatient medical care.

Your provider may recommend a higher level of care when outpatient telehealth treatment is not appropriate.

Is Substance Use Treatment Confidential?

Psychiatric and substance-use care involves important privacy protections. MoodClinics handles clinical information according to applicable healthcare privacy requirements.

Specific privacy rules may depend on the type of information, treatment setting, and applicable law.

Who Provides the Care?

Care is provided by qualified psychiatric providers authorized to practice where the patient is located.

Any prescribing depends on the treating clinician’s current California authority, required registrations, an individual evaluation and the rules in effect at the time of care. No controlled substance or other medication is guaranteed.

How Much Does Treatment Cost?

Self-pay visits are $99. Confirm fee inclusions before booking.

The same price applies to the initial psychiatric evaluation and follow-up visits.

MoodClinics is self-pay only and does not accept insurance.

There are no subscriptions, membership fees, or required monthly plans. Payment methods and HSA/FSA eligibility will be confirmed separately before any payment is collected.

How Quickly Can I Get an Appointment?

The care team confirms current California availability after reviewing your secure appointment request. A request is not a confirmed appointment. No payment is collected on this website.

Visits are conducted through secure telehealth.

Overdose, Severe Withdrawal and Emergencies

MoodClinics is not an emergency, overdose-response, or medical detoxification service.

If someone may be experiencing an opioid overdose, call 911 immediately. Naloxone should be administered when available and appropriate.

Severe withdrawal, confusion, seizures, severe agitation, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, or other acute medical or psychiatric symptoms may require emergency evaluation.

For 24/7 crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.

Before your evaluation

Prepare a medication list, relevant treatment history and the questions you want to discuss. Share medical records only through the verified secure intake route when invited. Do not change or stop prescribed medication based on this page or while waiting for an appointment.