Asana Recovery Misleading, Dangerous, and Emotionally Traumatizing Costa Mesa California

I was a client at Asana Recovery, and I feel a responsibility to share my experience so that others don’t end up in the same distressing and unsafe situation. This facility is not what it advertises. While the staff members were often kind and clearly doing the best they could under impossible circumstances, they were the only positive aspect of my time there — and unfortunately, their hands were tied by the facility’s terrible management, lack of clinical oversight, and unethical practices.

To begin with, Asana fails to provide even the most basic elements of actual rehabilitation. There was no real medical supervision, no clinicians on-site, and absolutely no structure. Days passed without therapy, treatment programming, or meaningful support. There were no scheduled group sessions with professionals, no one-on-one counseling, and nothing that resembled a recovery plan. It felt more like a holding facility than a treatment center.

The living conditions added to the chaos. Food was scarce — there were barely enough groceries to prepare proper meals, and dietary needs were ignored. There were no outings & no stimulation. We were isolated and left to sit in discomfort both physically and mentally. It felt like we were being warehoused until insurance ran out.

But what truly shook me — and what I still struggle to process — was what happened when I expressed the desire to leave. As soon as I mentioned wanting to leave AMA (Against Medical Advice), everything changed. Staff abruptly cut off my phone calls. I was told I couldn’t have access to my personal belongings — including my wallet, phone, and ID — for 72 hours. Without my belongings, I had no way to safely leave or contact anyone. It was a deliberate tactic to trap clients inside.

This wasn’t just my experience — I personally witnessed other clients being manipulated or pressured into staying, even when they were clearly not receiving appropriate care. One person begged to go to the emergency room due to a serious medical issue, and they were denied. It was terrifying. The lengths Asana will go to in order to keep clients on the census — whether or not it’s safe — are absolutely unethical.

Adding insult to injury, ASANA RECOVERY IS CURRENTLY FACING A FEDERAL LAWSUIT FOR INSURANCE FRAUD!!!!!!!! Not that I'm surprised in the least— they’re invested in keeping bodies in beds for as long as insurance will pay, regardless of whether or not the environment is safe, therapeutic, or even legal.
To be clear: the staff I met were compassionate and tried their best, but they had no real authority. The core problem is the facility itself — the leadership, the system, the absence of actual clinical care, and the way they manipulate and trap vulnerable people for profit.

If you are looking for help, please avoid Asana Recovery. You deserve real treatment with licensed professionals, safety, dignity, and respect. This was not that.