What to Look For When Choosing an Opioid Detox Center in New Jersey

Living with an addiction is extremely difficult. The effects of this disease can cause serious health complications and create permanent rifts in relationships with your loved ones. Recovery from addiction requires finding the right detox program to fit your individual needs.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “In 2019, an estimated 10.1 million people aged 12 or older misused opioids in the past year. Specifically, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, and 745,000 people used heroin.”[1]

When you suffer from opioid addiction, your body becomes accustomed to the presence of the substance. This means that if you abruptly stop using the drug, you will experience symptoms of withdrawal. The only way to safely recover from opioid withdrawal syndrome is to attend an opioid detox center.

But how do you know if an opioid detox program in New Jersey is the best one for you? When choosing a program to attend, look for the following qualities:

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Oftentimes, detox is considered to be the most difficult stage of recovery. Dealing with withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and painful, especially if you are attempting to do so on your own. Attending a medical detox center that offers medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can make this process easier, and most importantly, safer.

When it comes to opioid withdrawal, the use of medications is extremely important. MAT programs use FDA-approved medicines that soothe the symptoms of withdrawal and prevent cravings from occurring. This keeps you medically stable and comfortable throughout the entire process, increasing your chances of long-term sobriety.

Examples of medications used during MAT detox for opioids include:[2]

• Methadone (opioid agonist)
• Buprenorphine (partial opioid agonist)
• Clonidine (alpha-2 adrenergic agonist)
• Lofexidine (alpha-2 adrenergic agonist)

Accreditation

Unfortunately, not all opioid detox centers in New Jersey are created equal. Because of this, there are procedures in place to make sure that addiction treatment programs like detox facilities are up to national standards in terms of efficacy and safety. Accreditation is a process that ensures a detox program is using evidence-based treatments, follows safety protocols, and provides individualized treatment plans that guarantee each patient’s unique needs are met.

When you are looking for an opioid detox center in New Jersey, you should always make sure that the program is accredited. The two most common accrediting bodies for addiction treatment centers are the Joint Commission (JCAHO) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). If a detox facility is accredited by JCAHO or CARF, you can rest assured that they will provide you with quality treatment.

Individualized Treatment Planning

Another indication that an opioid detox center is reputable is whether it provides individualized treatment.

While some drug detox centers believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, it’s important to note that everyone is unique and everyone has different methods of learning, so you may require a different method of treatment than another person. This is why it is important to choose a detox facility that offers individualized treatment planning.

When a program applies individualized treatment, you will undergo an in-depth biopsychosocial assessment when you arrive at the facility. These assessments take a look at your medical, psychological, social, family, and substance abuse history. The medical staff can use this information to create a highly individualized treatment plan that addresses all of your needs and goals.

Continuum of Care

While choosing an opioid detox center that offers a continuum of care is not a requirement, it is extremely beneficial. A continuum of care is a structured format of addiction treatment that includes detox, inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization programs, outpatient treatment, and sober living.

Each program provides a different level of addiction treatment and support. As you work your way into the less intensive forms of treatment, you will begin learning how to function as a sober person in real-life situations. As you step down to lower levels of care, you will learn how to maintain long-term sobriety in different settings, decreasing your chances of experiencing a relapse.

It is important to note that you do not always need to complete every type of addiction treatment program in the continuum of care. Some individuals benefit from only attending detox and one additional program like inpatient or outpatient treatment, while other people require the entire sequence of programs to fully recover. However, choosing an opioid detox center that offers a full continuum of care can provide you with the opportunity to partake in additional recovery programs.

Positive Reviews and Testimonials

Reading reviews and testimonials about the opioid detox facility you are interested in can help you make an informed choice. Some programs have tons of positive reviews, while others have a majority of negative ones. It is important to choose an opioid detox center that has a consistently positive theme modeled in its reviews.

The best reviews to read are the ones posted by family members of people who completed the program. Sometimes, the patients themselves were resistant to treatment or unhappy that they had to give up substances, causing them to leave a negative review. The perspective of the family members will be less biased because they are only interested in the progress the treatment program helped their loved one achieve.

Start Your Recovery at an Opioid Detox Center in New Jersey

Whether you or your loved one require opioid detox, New Jersey Addiction Intervention is here to help. New Jersey Addiction Intervention has close relationships with trusted detox facilities in New Jersey and across the country. When medical detoxification is recommended, we can help you get admitted to the best facility for your needs. Following the completion of detox, we can also help make the transition to our outpatient treatment programs simple and easy.

Don’t wait any longer to start your recovery–contact us today to speak with an admissions counselor about starting treatment.

References:

1. https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/opioid-crisis-statistics/index.html
2. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/medically-supervised-opioid-withdrawal-during-treatment-for-addiction