Substance Abuse Stats in Hamilton Township, NJ
We all know New Jersey as one of the most affected parts of the United States when it comes to drug abuse. The small community of Hamilton Township is no different from NJ’s urban areas when it comes to that.
In 2017, 605 people got help for substance abuse disorder in Hamilton Township. That’s a shocking 20% of all drug abuse admissions in Mercer County that year!
More substance abuse stats in Hamilton Township include:
- More people entering treatment used heroin than any drug at 54%
- 25% used alcohol
- 11% used marijuana
- 6% used opioids (other than heroin)
- 3% used cocaine
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
Outpatient and inpatient rehab both have their own important uses. Neither is better than the other at treating drug abuse.
You may want to choose outpatient rehab if:
- You are stable
- You are able to follow your doctor’s instructions
- You can attend regular appointments, check-ins, and drug tests
- You have a good support system
On the other hand, inpatient rehab is best if:
- You abuse alcohol, benzos, or opioids
- You have a complicated condition
- You need extra support and structure
- You need help controlling cravings
- You need help with accountability
Remember, the two aren’t exclusive. Lots of patients start recovery inpatient and continue attending outpatient after they’re done.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
The length of your rehab stay depends on your needs. Your care team will help you decide the best stay length when you have your intake visit.
It’s common for rehab to last 30, 60, or 90 days. Of these standard program lengths, 90 days is the minimum that the National Institute of Drug Abuse recommends.
Rehab stays shorter than 90 days are not proven to be effective in treating substance abuse disorder.
For the best results, stay in rehab for as long as you can manage. Even if you feel fine after the first four weeks, your outcome will be better if you keep at it for longer.
What to Expect at Rehab
Drug and alcohol programs are different at each center but use many of the same treatments. Some include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: CBT teaches you how your thought processes work. This helps you understand cravings so you can resist them better.
- Dialectical behavior therapy: DBT teaches you to live in each moment, which can repair your relationships and teach you to enjoy life again without drugs.
- Medication-assisted treatment: Suboxone or methadone can be used to treat opioid and alcohol cravings in some cases.
Your care team will help you choose the therapies that are best for you and your needs.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
Think about going to detox if you’re dependent on a drug. Dependence happens when you use drugs that cause addiction.
Your body becomes used to having that substance in its system. When you stop using it, your body doesn’t know how to function, so you feel withdrawal.
Withdrawal can make you very sick. Even in cases where it’s not life-threatening, it’s still likely to cause a relapse. Some people feel so bad during detox that they can’t think about anything except using drugs to make it stop.
Medical detox helps by controlling your symptoms and keeping you comfortable. Medications can be used to treat pain, stomach distress, agitation, and seizures.
How Long is Detox?
Detox lengths can vary between three days and 14 days. It’s different for each center and each drug. You can’t expect to detox from stimulants as fast as you’d detox from alcohol, for instance!
Three- to five-day detox is often used for alcohol withdrawal. If you use alcohol very heavily, you may need longer. Longer detox lengths are used for benzos, opioids, and other drugs of abuse.
You can’t tell how long you’ll need to detox on your own. Talk to a care professional before scheduling your detox stay. They’ll be able to make sure that you get the right length of care.