Opioids have contributed to serious substance use disorders all over the United States and in cities like New Brunswick. In fact, the opioid crisis has hit New Jersey and the northeastern United States particularly hard. While addiction is a chronic disease for which there is no known cure, it can be treated effectively with the right approach, which varies by the person.
If you or a loved one is considering treatment, you can learn more below about your treatment options and how opioid detox and treatment can address a substance use disorder.
Opioid Addiction in New Brunswick
Opioids have contributed to a major drug use problem in the United States. In 2020, the country saw record numbers of overdose deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 100,000 overdose deaths in 2020, which exceeds all previous annual records significantly. Opioids were estimated to be involved in around 70,000 of those fatal overdoses. The numbers also appear to be rising. Numbers from September 2021 reveal an estimation of more than 78,000 overdose deaths in the previous 12 months.
Opioids can be deadly when they are taken in high doses, and opioid use disorders increase your risk of a dangerous overdose. Illicit opioid use also contributes to overdose deaths. Heroin is a common illicit, recreational opioid. Heroin use may start after a period of prescription opioid abuse. However, pure heroin is rare, and it’s likely that heroin users are taking it along with other adulterants.
This can cause an overdose if they encounter particularly pure heroin that is more potent. But in recent years, overdose is often caused by adulteration with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that can kill the average person in a dose as low as two or three milligrams. Fentanyl can be mixed into heroin, but it may also be pressed into pills and made to look like legitimate prescriptions.
New Jersey has also experienced significant opioid use problems. The northeastern U.S. has been hit particularly hard by the opioid crisis, and cities like New Brunswick have seen its impact. In 2020, there were 220 opioid overdose deaths in and around New Brunswick in Middlesex County. That year, there were 275,314 prescriptions dispensed. Between January and November 2021, New Jersey saw 2,896 opioid overdose deaths.
The best way to avoid an opioid overdose is to address opioid addiction. Treatment isn’t a cure, but it can help you cope with addiction symptoms like cravings. It has also been shown to reduce drug use and other issues related to addiction, like criminal activity.
Summit Behavioral Health Drug Rehab in New Brunswick
Addiction treatment is a complex and personalized process that’s designed to help you achieve lasting recovery. Treatment is separated into several levels of care as outlined by the continuum of care model. There are four major levels of care in addiction treatment, with intensive inpatient treatment at the top and low-level outpatient treatment at the bottom. As you progress in treatment, you’ll move on to lower levels of care. Here’s a breakdown of the levels of care you may go through in treating your opioid use disorder:
Detox
Detox is the highest level of care in addiction treatment. Detox is also called medical detoxification. According to the continuum of care model, detox falls under the category of medically managed intensive inpatient treatment. Detox is usually reserved to help people get through the withdrawal period safely, but it may also be used to treat other medical needs that may be associated with substance use disorders. Opioid withdrawal is unpleasant, and it may be one of the most uncomfortable moments of a person’s life, but it’s not usually life-threatening like withdrawal from central nervous system depressants.
Still, opioid withdrawal can be difficult to get through on your own. Detox involves medical treatment, and it may involve treatment with medications to alleviate symptoms. You may also begin therapies to address the underlying causes of addiction.
Inpatient/Residential
Inpatient and residential treatment represent the second-highest level of care in addiction treatment. The term inpatient may refer to any 24-hour medical or clinical services, but it also refers to a specific level of care that involves 24-hour medically monitored treatment. Medical monitoring may be appropriate for someone who has gone through treatment for acute medical issues like withdrawal but still needs to be monitored for any potential complications. In some cases, this may be used to monitor someone for lingering withdrawal symptoms or other lasting medical needs. Inpatient treatment also offers high-level clinical care with many hours of therapy and round-the-clock support.
Residential treatment is very similar, though it may involve clinically managed services without the need for medical monitoring. Residential services involve on-site living in settings that are similar to dorms or apartments. You will likely share your room with someone else in the treatment program, partly to avoid isolation. Through residential care, you will attend therapy and other treatment services each day as you work through your treatment plan.
Partial Hospitalization
Partial hospitalization (PHP) is the most intensive level of care in which you are able to live independently. It’s a level of outpatient treatment that allows you to live at home while you attend treatment services during the day throughout the week. Partial hospitalization is specifically defined by the number of hours you spend in treatment services each week, requiring at least 20 hours. But you may spend more depending on your needs. For some, it’s similar to the amount of time you’d spend on a full-time job.
Outpatient levels of care are important because they allow you to live on your own while you still have support from treatment and therapy each week. As you encounter real-world challenges that may threaten your sobriety, you will continue to receive help from your therapist and other clinicians. You will work through your personalized treatment plan, which may involve several therapy options, including individual and group therapy.
Intensive Outpatient
Intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment is similar to partial hospitalization, but it requires only nine or more levels of care per week. Intensive outpatient treatment offers more independent time than partial hospitalization and inpatient care. Moving to outpatient treatment from higher levels of care can help you ease into an independent life of recovery.
It also allows you to take on more responsibility as you pursue goals in your life. As you accept more of these responsibilities, you may encounter more challenges to your sobriety that you can address in treatment each week. In some cases, you may move from IOP to a lower level of outpatient (OP) care with fewer than nine hours of treatment.
Aftercare
Aftercare is an additional service provided to people who complete treatment at Summit Behavioral Health. It’s not a level of care in the continuum of care, but it can be an important step in helping you continue your recovery process after treatment. Since addiction is a chronic disease, recovery is a lifelong process. Aftercare can help connect you to resources like job placement, housing, and 12-step programs.
Opioid Rehab in New Brunswick FAQ
If you’re considering addiction treatment, you may have several questions. Here are answers to some of the most common questions:
How Long Is Rehab?
The length of time you spend in treatment will depend on the severity of your substance use disorder and your specific treatment plan. When you enter treatment, you’ll meet with a therapist to create a personalized treatment plan, and you’ll reassess it together each week. There is no limit to how much time you can or should spend in treatment, but there may be a minimum. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that treatment that lasts fewer than 90 days may not be as effective as a longer recovery program.
Does Summit Behavioral Health Provide Transportation?
Summit Behavioral Health can help you get to your treatment program if you’re coming from out of town. We can also provide transportation to clients who are going through inpatient treatment. Most of your treatment services will take place on campus, but you may need to see a specialist at some point (if you need to see a dentist, for example.) We can pick you up from the airport and get you to and from appointments, but you will need to manage flights if you need to fly into the area.
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost?
Rehab can cost several thousand dollars. Like other forms of long-term healthcare, addiction treatment can be pricey, especially in inpatient levels of care. However, addiction is a progressive disease that can be dangerous. Addressing it in the best way you can is usually worth the expense. Plus, addiction can affect your finances and your ability to maintain employment. Severe substance use disorders may be more costly in the end.
Do I Have to Travel?
Traveling can be a challenge, but it also comes with some benefits. Some people feel that getting out of the town in which they were in active addiction is a fresh start. If you don’t live in the New Brunswick area or in New Jersey, you may have to travel to attend treatment at Summit Behavioral Health. But if you can’t travel, there may be good treatment options in your area.
What Insurance Carriers Does Summit Behavioral Health Take?
Summit Behavioral Health accepts coverage from most private insurance companies. You can call anytime to have your insurance verified for coverage here, and we can help navigate your insurance plan. Summit Behavioral Health is also an in-network provider with several insurance companies, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Lower Hudson Valley.
