Category: Addiction Recovery

Overcoming opioid addiction to heroin or prescription opioid medications can be extremely challenging. Individuals struggling with opioid addiction often face high rates of relapse, and opioid abuse is widespread across the United States. An estimated 3 million U.S. citizens and 16 million people worldwide are currently grappling with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

Therapies and counseling can help treat opioid addiction. However, many patients relapse after recovery programs. Using medications alongside these treatments can be beneficial.

If you or a loved one are struggling with OUD, you might be wondering if Suboxone can help. Let’s take a look at what Suboxone is and who it can help.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a medication used to treat opioid dependence. It contains buprenorphine and naloxone and is typically administered as a dissolvable film or tablet.

Buprenorphine works as a partial opioid “agonist,” meaning it triggers the same receptors in the nervous system but less intensely. It is used for the treatment of opioid addiction and can also be a helpful tool in pain management.

Naloxone works as an opioid “antagonist” in how it rapidly reverses the effects of opioids in the event of an overdose.

When buprenorphine and naloxone are compounded to create Suboxone, they work together to significantly reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Like most medications, Suboxone can cause side effects. The most common are:

• Nausea/vomiting
• Constipation
• Drowsiness
• Tingling or painful tongue, numbness in the mouth
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Insomnia
• Irregular heartbeat
• Blurred vision
• Headache
• Swelling in extremities

Because Suboxone binds to the same receptors in the brain as opioids, it does produce a slight risk of respiratory depression, which is characterized by slow, shallow breathing. If you experience respiratory depression while taking Suboxone, be sure to seek medical care immediately.

Suboxone Use in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Blue Star Recovery offers medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs to help guide patients to long-term recovery. Our Suboxone treatment program in New Jersey has become a paramount tool in helping patients with OUD reach long-term recovery.

Clinical trials have shown that patients who received Suboxone alongside counseling had more successful outcomes than those who went through standard detoxification and counseling.

With a treatment plan that combines Suboxone prescriptions and behavioral therapy, our patients go on to live sober, healthy lifestyles.

Some patients will only need to use Suboxone as part of their treatment during detox from opioids, while others may use it for an extended period into recovery.

While buprenorphine can cause some level of dependency in patients taking Suboxone long-term, it is far less addictive than opioids, making it a practical resource in treating addiction.

Suboxone Treatment as Part of the Recovery Process

Your MAT program will utilize Suboxone alongside a traditional recovery timeline, starting with detoxification all the way to aftercare.

Detox

A medical professional will work with you to determine what format of detoxification will work best for your needs. This may include inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment, and it is a common time for your doctor to prescribe Suboxone to aid in opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Detox typically lasts for a few days.

Treatment

Patients will receive different therapies in an inpatient or outpatient setting during this time. Your provider will help you determine which setting will be most effective in your recovery. During this period your treatment will be carried out in a variety of ways, such as:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Holistic therapies such as yoga, meditation, nutrition, and exercise programs
• Relapse prevention therapy
• Aftercare planning

During this time, your provider may also address any underlying mental health conditions that could affect your recovery process.

Aftercare

Once you have reached the aftercare stage in your recovery, you will be able to resume a more regular lifestyle with continued support as needed. Reviewing aftercare services available through New Jersey treatment centers can help you determine which check-ins, therapy, support groups, or other resources may support long-term sobriety.

This might include regular appointments with your therapist, attending a 12-step recovery program, or appointments with your doctor to manage the ongoing use of medications such as Suboxone. 

Aftercare treatment plans will adjust with time, depending on the support you need to maintain your recovery.

Start Suboxone Treatment in New Jersey Today

At Blue Star Recovery, we know that some people benefit from medication management to support their recovery. Our programs use proven therapies along with medications, when needed, to help people overcome addiction.

If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction, help is available. Call now to speak with an admissions coordinator and find out if Suboxone treatment in New Jersey is right for you.

References:

1. 1. National Institutes of Health: Extended Suboxone Treatment Substantially Improves Outcomes for Opioid-Addicted Young Adults
   2. National Library of Medicine: Opioid Addiction

Addiction is complex and challenging, and it affects not just the person with the substance use issue but also the people who love them. If you’re watching a family member or friend battle addiction, it can be heartbreaking, especially when they refuse desperately needed help.

Families tend to feel powerless while witnessing their loved one’s life unravel, experiencing the emotional, financial and physical toll addiction can bring. The frustration can be overwhelming, leading many to wonder if there’s any way to intervene when someone won’t voluntarily go to therapy.

In New Jersey, this question can become legally important: Can you force someone to go to therapy if they refuse? Some states, including New Jersey, have involuntary commitment laws.

Understanding the laws surrounding involuntary commitment for addiction treatment is crucial for families who feel they’ve exhausted every other option. We’ll explore whether it’s possible to compel someone into therapy in New Jersey and, if so, what steps need to be taken for this course of action.

Understanding Involuntary Commitment Laws in New Jersey

Involuntary commitment is the legal process through which a person can be ordered into treatment for substance abuse or mental health issues, even if they don’t willingly agree to seek help.

The primary goal of involuntary commitment in addiction treatment is protecting those deemed unable to make decisions for their own well-being because of the severity of their substance use disorder. It’s intended to provide a route for urgent intervention, especially when addiction is putting the person’s life or the lives of others at risk.

In New Jersey, legal measures exist that allow concerned family members or healthcare professionals to petition the court to have someone involuntarily committed for addiction treatment or mental health treatment.

The laws are meant to balance individual rights with the need for treatment, to ensure people who pose a danger to themselves or others because of their substance abuse can get the help they need.

However, the process involves strict criteria and legal protocols, so families must understand the requirements and steps involved before pursuing this option.

New Jersey Commitment Laws for Addiction Treatment

In New Jersey, involuntary commitment to substance abuse treatment is governed by specific laws.

One key piece of legislation related to this is the New Jersey Substance Abuse Treatment Act, allowing family members or healthcare professionals to petition the court for involuntary commitment.

To force someone into therapy under New Jersey law, several conditions and criteria must be met:

• Clear evidence of danger: The individual must pose a clear and imminent threat to themselves or others because of their substance use. This could include behaviors that indicate a serious risk of harm, like threats of suicide, engaging in reckless or life-threatening activities, or harming others while being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Inability to make safe decisions: The individual must be unable to make informed health and safety decisions for themselves because of the severity of their addiction. This usually involves an evaluation by healthcare professionals who can testify to the impaired judgment of the person.
• Proof of addiction: There has to be clear evidence an individual is suffering from a substance use disorder, which includes a medical or psychological assessment showing drug or alcohol use is beyond the control of the person. It has to be shown that addiction is causing serious harm in their life.

Once these conditions are met, the family can file a petition in the court system. A judge reviews the evidence, and if the court finds that the criteria for involuntary commitment are satisfied, the individual may be ordered into a treatment program.

This process is meant to be a last resort, only used when all other efforts to encourage voluntary treatment have failed.

Emergency Situations and Temporary Commitments

In certain emergencies, a person struggling with addiction may pose an immediate danger to themselves or others. This can occur when substance use leads to reckless behavior, suicidal thoughts or aggressive actions.

In these cases, immediate intervention can be necessary to prevent harm and stabilize the person. New Jersey law does allow for emergency commitments and temporary holds to address these situations.

During an emergency commitment, a person can be taken into custody for evaluation without a prior court order. The goal of a temporary hold is to assess the person’s condition and stabilize them before further harm occurs.

During a temporary hold, the person is usually taken to a hospital or mental health facility for evaluation, and the initial period can last up to 72 hours.

If the evaluation during the temporary hold reveals the individual remains a significant risk, the temporary commitment can be extended. In that case, medical professionals may petition the court for a more extended involuntary commitment.

Can Involuntary Treatment and Therapy Be Effective?

The effectiveness of involuntary therapy is a topic of debate. While the idea of forcing someone into treatment could seem counterproductive, there’s evidence that even involuntary therapy can lead to positive outcomes. The key lies in the quality of the treatment program and the individual’s eventual willingness to engage with the process.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the motivation to seek treatment, whether voluntary or coerced, can shift over time as a person starts experiencing the benefits of sobriety and counseling. In many cases, even those who initially resist treatment may eventually commit to their recovery.

Research also indicates people forced into therapy often show outcomes similar to those who voluntarily seek help.

The initial push to get someone into treatment may be through legal means, but then the focus should be on developing internal motivation during the therapy process.

How To Get Help In New Jersey

For families in New Jersey seeking help for a loved one struggling with addiction, some resources provide both legal and treatment support. Whether you’re exploring involuntary therapy options or looking for ways to encourage voluntary treatment, it’s important to know where to turn for assistance.

Key resources include:

• New Jersey Department of Human Services: Offers resources and information on substance abuse services in the state, including helplines and referrals to treatment centers. Website: www.state.nj.us/humanservices
• New Jersey Substance Abuse Treatment Directory: A comprehensive directory of therapy centers across New Jersey offering services such as outpatient programs, partial hospitalization, and inpatient care. Website: www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas
• Blue Star Recovery: Located in Hazlet, NJ, Blue Star Recovery offers outpatient addiction treatment programs, including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, and dual diagnosis treatment. Website: www.bluestarrecovery.com
• Legal Resources: Families looking to initiate involuntary commitment can consult with local attorneys or contact the New Jersey State Bar Association for legal advice and assistance regarding the petition process. Website: www.njsba.com

Forcing someone to go to therapy in New Jersey is a complex, emotionally charged process.

While the state’s laws allow for involuntary commitment in certain cases, the legal process involves strict criteria and thorough evaluations.

If you’re struggling to help a loved one with addiction, you don’t have to face it alone. At Blue Star Recovery, we provide compassionate care. Contact us today to learn more about our evidence-based addiction treatment programs.

For many people, addiction is much more than a physical struggle with drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse issues are often accompanied by unresolved trauma or mental illness. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders.”[1]

Dealing with a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time can be very challenging. If you have a combination of addiction and a mental illness, you know how hard it can be to cope with everyday life. Unfortunately, the difficulties that arise when you suffer from co-occurring disorders carry into recovery, complicating the healing process.

Dual diagnosis therapy centers in New Jersey have licensed mental health therapists on staff who can address both your addiction and mental health condition, making the recovery process that much easier. Dual diagnosis treatment offers many advantages as it allows you to recover from both conditions at the same time as well as improve your overall quality of life.

The six main benefits of dual diagnosis treatment are:

1. Assessment of Psychiatric Health

When you suffer from co-occurring disorders, you may be completely unaware of what mental health condition you struggle with. While you know something is wrong due to the emotional and psychological symptoms you are dealing with, sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint the diagnosis that fits your situation.

Luckily, dual-diagnosis treatment programs can provide you with an accurate assessment of your psychiatric health to provide you with a diagnosis that explains your symptoms.

Being aware of your diagnosis can help you find proper coping mechanisms and tools to help you deal with the symptoms you face daily. Additionally, being diagnosed with a mental health condition will allow you to receive the proper treatments, medications, and therapies you need to recover.

Common conditions to occur with substance use disorder include:[2]

• Anxiety and mood disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder 
• Major depressive disorder 
• Conduct disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

2. Individualized Treatment

When you attend a dual-diagnosis addiction treatment center in New Jersey, you will undergo a complete assessment of your medical, psychiatric, substance abuse, and social history. This will provide the staff members with information about your background, overall health, mental health, and history of substance abuse, allowing them to make an informed decision on what methods of treatment you will need to recover successfully.

After you complete the assessments, medical staff will create an individualized treatment plan that meets your unique needs. This provides you with effective and specific treatment tactics that are specific to your situation, ensuring that you do not waste any time during your stay at the facility.

3. A Wide Variety of Therapeutic Methods

Addiction and mental health affect everyone in different ways. For example, one person who struggles with depression may experience symptoms of insomnia and an inability to relax, while you may have a hard time getting out of bed and staying motivated. In the same way that co-occurring disorders affect everyone differently, each person may respond to specific types of therapy in a varied way.

Dual diagnosis therapy centers use a variety of therapeutic methods to determine which kind of treatment you respond to best. This ensures that the kind of therapy you are undergoing will provide you with symptom relief and an ability to cope with your co-occurring disorders.

Some of the therapeutic methods applied in dual diagnosis treatment programs include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
• Contingency management (CM)
• Motivational interviewing (MI)
• Family behavior therapy

4. Counseling Groups That Promote Healthy Communication

Dual diagnosis therapy centers emphasize the importance of group counseling. Group counseling is a form of therapy that includes a group of 5-15 patients and one or two licensed mental health providers who facilitate group discussions.

Counseling groups allow patients to experience therapy collaboratively, providing them with insight into how others experience co-occurring disorders and the recovery thereof.

Participating in a counseling group can allow you to develop healthy communication skills and gain support from your peers, helping you deal with the isolation and loneliness that is caused by experiencing co-occurring addiction and mental health issues.

Other benefits of counseling groups include peer support, unbiased feedback on current issues, motivation to continue treatment, and improved social skills.

5. Learning How to Cope Without Using Drugs or Alcohol

A key aspect of recovery from addiction and mental illness is learning how to cope with your feelings, emotions, and overall life without feeling the need to use drugs or alcohol. Oftentimes, when you struggle with co-occurring disorders the substance use disorder developed as a coping mechanism for your untreated mental health condition. Because of this, learning how to use healthy coping mechanisms is an integral aspect of dual diagnosis treatment.

Examples of healthy coping mechanisms you will learn in a dual diagnosis program include:

• Learning to identify triggers
• Using mindfulness techniques to stay in the present moment
• Journaling to organize your thoughts
• Using exercise, healthy sleeping patterns, and a balanced diet to manage emotions
• Having a list of people you can call in times of need
• Regular attendance to self-help support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery
• Regular attendance of individual and group therapy
• Continued medication management if needed

6. Recovery of the Mind, Body, and Soul

Many dual diagnosis treatment programs in New Jersey use a holistic approach to recovery from co-occurring disorders. Holistic treatment is a method of healing that focuses on the person as a whole, rather than treating a specific health condition. In other words, holistic treatment addresses the psychological, familial, societal, ethical, and spiritual as well as the biological dimensions of health and illness.

Examples of holistic treatments used to aid in the recovery of addiction and mental illness include:

• Yoga
• Tai chi
• Guided meditation
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Spiritual therapy
• Routine exercise
• Proper nutrition
• Counseling
• Art therapy

Get Connected With a Top-Rated Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in New Jersey

Suffering from a mental illness and a substance use disorder can be exhausting. More often than not, it is extremely difficult to recover from your symptoms without professional help. Attending a professional dual diagnosis program can provide you with the tools and support you need to recover from both of your co-occurring disorders.

Contact Blue Star Recovery Center today for more information on our dual diagnosis treatment program in New Jersey.

References:

1. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/comorbidity-substance-use-other-mental-disorders
2. https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders