Substance Abuse Stats in Paterson, NJ
Passaic County is struggling with a substance abuse problem—the heart of it is in the city of Paterson.
In Paterson alone, 2,128 people entered drug and alcohol treatment in 2016.
Of those:
- 45% used heroin
- 33% used injectable drugs
- 24% used alcohol
In Paterson, drug abuse is associated with social problems. For instance, 64% of people entering treatment had legal problems and 61% were living in poverty.
The people affected most by drug abuse in Paterson are men, who make up 72%, and people aged 35-54, who make up 43%.
Choosing Between an Outpatient and Inpatient Rehab
If you’re considering rehab in Paterson as your next step, your first hurdle is to decide whether inpatient or outpatient is right for you.
- Inpatient treatment is best if you need structure and stability. Most patients should start with inpatient because the first steps of recovery involve a lot of vulnerabilities. Having extra structure and care during this part helps increase your odds of success.
- Outpatient treatment is best if you need freedom with some structure. However, it’s not right for everyone. Most people do best with an inpatient stay first, then switch to outpatient once they are stable and able to care for themselves.
How Long Can Treatment at a Rehab Last?
The most common rehab lengths are 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days.
However, you’re not tied to 90 days as a maximum stay. Many people choose to stay in treatment for longer. You can continue attending outpatient rehab almost indefinitely if you choose—and the benefits are huge.
Three months of treatment is the minimum—not the expectation. If you’re in treatment for opioids with methadone, then the minimum is a year.
The bottom line is, you should stay in treatment as long as you need to for recovery—even if that’s months or years.
What to Expect at Rehab
You should expect rehab to be a nurturing experience with predictable activities and a structured environment.
Some experiences you might have at rehab include:
- Activity therapy: Animal therapy, yoga, and journaling are some examples of activities you might take part in at treatment.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This type of one-on-one therapy helps you learn how your thoughts relate to your actions. In turn, this helps you learn strategies for avoiding relapse.
- Daily check-ins: Whether you’re inpatient or outpatient, regular appointments are part of the rehab experience. This builds accountability and gives you a place to ask questions about your treatment.
When Would You Need to Go to Detox?
If you’re physically dependent on any kind of drug, then you should go to detox before you start rehab.
That’s because physical dependence causes all kinds of unpleasant symptoms when you stop using drugs—ranging from pain to seizures to stomach upset.
If you’re detoxing from alcohol or benzos after abusing them for a long time, detox can even cause coma and death. Opioids are very hard to detox from as well, though the detox isn’t life-threatening.
Going to medical detox isn’t just to make your life easier (although it does that). It’s also to keep you safe.
How Long is Detox?
It’s important to stay in detox for long enough before you start rehab. Most rehab programs last anywhere from seven to 14 days, although some last longer.
The right detox length for you depends on:
- The drugs you’re using
- Your drug abuse history
- Your health history
Health factors can affect detox length, including your liver and digestive health. Also, not all drugs have the same detox length. And if you detox from multiple drugs at once, you might need a longer detox—or to break detox into multiple sessions.