Elizabeth, NJ Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers

Substance Abuse Stats in Elizabeth, NJ

If you’ve been to Elizabeth, New Jersey, you’ve probably seen signs advertising the city’s Substance Abuse Initiative. Over 3,300 people in Union County (where Elizabeth is located) entered treatment for drug abuse in 2016. 

That year, in the area: 

  • 71% of people entering treatment were men
  • 44% of people entering treatment were between 35 and 54 years old 
  • 38% of treatment admissions were for heroin
  • 33% of treatment admissions were for alcohol 

People in Elizabeth who abuse drugs are more likely to have social or financial problems. For instance, 72% of people who entered treatment in 2016 were living in poverty, and 32% had no insurance of any kind.

Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab

You have a choice to make almost right away in your recovery journey: will you choose inpatient or outpatient treatment? 

  • Inpatient treatment is useful if you need extra structure and support while you recover. Opioid, alcohol, and benzo recovery are all particularly hard, so having inpatient treatment as a crutch is helpful. 
  • Outpatient treatment is a good choice if you need to attend school or work, or handle other responsibilities while you recover. Lots of patients transition to outpatient treatment after they graduate from inpatient. 

Talking to your care team about your substance abuse history is a good way to decide which type of rehab is right for you. 

How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?

It’s common for treatment centers to offer stays for one, two, or three months. Research finds that a three-month stay is the minimum for good treatment outcomes. 

Going to treatment for less than three months means a higher rate of relapse. 

For opioid treatment using medication-assisted treatment (the use of drugs to treat withdrawal and cravings), twelve months of treatment is the minimum. 

It’s tempting to hurry through rehab and get home fast, but that’s not in your best interest. Committing to the right length of rehab is crucial to your recovery. 

What to Expect at Rehab

Treatment is full of activities that keep you busy and focused on recovering. These can include: 

  • Daily activities: Yoga, art, journaling, and sculpting are all expressive activities used in rehab. 
  • Medication-assisted treatment: If you’re a candidate, MAT helps you recover by eliminating withdrawal and detox symptoms.
  • Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are two common kinds of talk therapy used to treat substance abuse. 

Rehab is also a time to practice accountability, so you’ll be expected to check in regularly and take drug tests. This helps keep you on track and drug-free. 

When Would You Need to Go to Detox?

You should go to detox if you’re having signs of physical dependence. 

Dependence happens when your body becomes used to having a drug in its system and it forgets how to function without it. When you stop taking the drug, you experience withdrawal symptoms that can be uncomfortable at best. 

Signs of withdrawal include: 

  • Cravings
  • Fever 
  • Mood changes
  • Pain
  • Stomach upset 
  • Sweating

Some common drugs that cause dependence with severe withdrawal include:

  • Alcohol
  • Benzos (e.g. Ativan)
  • Opioids (e.g. Tramadol) 

If you’re dependent on any drug, then you should seek detox before rehab. 

How Long is Detox?

No two detoxes are exactly the same. Many treatment centers offer detox lengths of seven to 14 days, which is long enough to detox from many common drugs, such as opioids and alcohol. 

You should talk to your care provider before entering medical detox, whether you’re detoxing in a hospital or in a residential center. They can give you an idea of:

  • How long detox lasts for the drugs you’re withdrawing from
  • What kind of support you can expect during your detox stay 

The best treatment centers are the ones that tailor their detox plans to your needs. 

Sources

  1. New Jersey Department of Human Services: Substance abuse overview 2016
  2. Psych Central: Differences between outpatient and inpatient treatment programs
  3. National Institute on Drug Abuse: How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?
  4. National Institute on Drug Abuse: Behavioral therapies