Over 300 rehab facilities exist in New Jersey. Still, like other big states in the country, their fight against addiction remains high. With heroin and alcohol becoming the most commonly abused substances in New Jersey, patients and their families are looking for rehab centers that cater to their needs. Luckily, there are plenty of New Jersey addiction treatment options to choose from.
New Jersey Substance Abuse Statistics
As recently as 2020, New Jersey ranked 30th for drug use and addiction in the United States. They’re also ranked 42nd for drug health issues and rehab, as they continue to experience an increase in teenage drug abuse.
- 42% of admissions to substance abuse treatment were seeking help for heroin abuse.
- 40% of people needing substance abuse treatment don’t receive care.
- 90% of drug overdoses in New Jersey involved opioids in 2018.
- 10.7% of all deaths among people ages 12-15 are the result of a drug overdose.
Addiction Services in New Jersey
The state of New Jersey has strict laws when it comes to drug-related cases. These laws on drug use hope to control the epidemic and help people get the help they need. Because New Jersey struggles with teenagers abusing drugs in the first place, these strict laws hope to get teens out of the streets and scare them away from possessing drugs.
Marijuana Laws
While medical marijuana is legal in New Jersey, marijuana laws are quite strict for recreational use. Even for medical practice, patients and caregivers must pay a $200 registration fee with the state, and only specific qualifying conditions apply. They also limit the amount of marijuana they receive per month, and home cultivation is prohibited.
Bloodborne Disease Harm Reduction Act
In 2006, New Jersey signed the Bloodborne Disease Harm Reduction Act into law. This allows sterile syringe access programs to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases common among intravenous drug users. It also provides medical care, housing programs, and other prevention services to intravenous users in the area.
Overdose Prevention Act
Like other states, in 2013, New Jersey passed the Overdose Prevention Act. This provides people who witness an overdose some legal protection. The program also encourages people to seek emergency help without the risk of being legally apprehended. It also allows doctors to provide naloxone to prevent an opioid overdose.
Tips for Choosing the Right Rehab Program in New Jersey
Finding the right rehab program in New Jersey is about doing your due diligence. Unfortunately, some addiction treatment centers only offer cookie-cutter solutions that don’t address the root of the addiction. Below are some things to look for and consider when choosing a rehab facility.
Accreditations
First of all, make sure the rehab center in New Jersey you’re looking at has all the proper accreditations. Also, therapists and staff must have their licenses, certifications, and other related credentials. Verify their credentials before choosing a treatment center. Or, ask for referrals from your primary healthcare doctor.
Evidence-based Approaches
While alternative therapies like meditation, yoga, acupuncture, and more can benefit the healing process, they cannot treat addiction alone. Look for treatments using evidence-based approaches that focus on behavioral therapy, medication treatment, and other treatment methods. Choosing evidence-based treatment also helps ensure your insurance policy will cover at least some of the treatment.
Payment Options
Some addiction treatment options in New Jersey are publically-funded, state-funded, or operated by not-for-profit corporations. However, many treatment centers also accept private, state, and federal insurance.
Furthermore, you can always ask about their payment options as some centers may offer payment arrangements, rehab scholarships, and more. A reliable addiction treatment center will help you find a way to fund your treatment. The idea is to make help accessible and look past the money.
Length
Stay clear from any treatment center that promises a cure for addiction over a weekend or a week. Overall, addiction recovery is often a long-term process that incorporates different types of therapy.
Length of treatment can be anywhere from 30 days for short-term recovery programs, 90-days for longer treatments, and over 180 days for long-term treatment programs. Still, the average length of stay for treatment programs in New Jersey was about 153 days.
A high-quality treatment center will not force you to fit into a specific timeline. Instead, they’ll work with you to help you find the best route. This includes helping you choose between an inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment center.
New Jersey Treatment Options to Consider
In reality, there isn’t a single path to addiction recovery. A comprehensive treatment plan incorporates various therapies and approaches that help someone understand their addiction and address any co-occurring disorders.
Drug and Alcohol Detox Programs
Most drug and alcohol addiction recovery journeys start with detox. Because many of these substances cause physical and mental withdrawal symptoms, it’s paramount to have medical assistance and support to do so with comfort. Choosing to detox at a treatment facility also prevents relapse.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Those who stop alcohol or opioids may need a medication-assisted program to start their rehab journey. Various FDA-approved medications help reduce cravings and lessen the dependence on these highly addictive drugs. However, keep in mind that MAT alone isn’t enough to treat addiction. It needs to be paired with supportive services and therapy to help the recovery process.
Personalized Behavioral Therapy
Substance abuse treatment incorporates individual therapy and group therapy sessions throughout the treatment. Both use a combination of various behavioral therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Sometimes treatments also include motivational interviewing (MI), contingency management (CM), and other behavioral therapy forms that address addiction’s many variables.
Dual Diagnosis Programs
Finally, most people with a substance abuse problem also have a co-occurring mental health condition. Anxiety, depression, psychosis, and personality disorders all co-occur with substance abuse. Dual diagnosis programs treat these conditions simultaneously to promote a better and prolonged recovery.
Should I Travel Outside of New Jersey for Addiction Treatment?
There’s no doubt that New Jersey offers plenty of resources for addicts and their families looking for help. However, sometimes a change of scenery is necessary. For anyone who’s currently living in a toxic environment prone to abuse, substance misuse, and other triggers, going away for treatment may help.
Research shows that a change of scenery can provide a clean slate for people; some benefits include:
- Creating a distance between you and triggers or bad influences
- Preventing you from going home or leaving against medical advice
- Offering the space to focus solely on your health and wellbeing
- Delivering better chances for long-term recovery and sobriety
In our Boynton Beach drug rehab center, we receive people from every city in New Jersey and across the country. We often receive addiction treatment patients from many New Jersey counties, including Camden, Ocean, and Essex County.
Finding Addiction Treatment
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please know that there’s help available. At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, we receive patients from all over New Jersey all the time. We work with your health insurance provider to help find out what they will cover. Our addiction specialists will also work with you to create a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses the core of your addiction. If you need help finding addiction treatment, contact us today to start the process.
