Category: treatment

If you’re struggling with an addiction to opioids or other drugs, you may be wondering what medication is used in MAT drug treatment. MAT, or Medication Assisted Treatment, combines different medications with behavioral therapy to help people overcome their addictions. This blog post will discuss the different types of medications used in MAT-assisted treatment and how they can help you recover from your addiction.

Contact Relevance Recovery today to learn more about our drug addiction and mental health rehab center in NJ.

What is MAT?  

Medication Assisted drug treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based treatment approach that uses FDA-approved medications to treat substance use disorders. 

MAT medications help to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier for people to stick to their treatment plan and abstain from drug use. 

In addition to medication, MAT also includes behavioral therapy and other support services.

MAT drug treatment is a contributor to increased patient survival, higher retention in treatment, decrease in criminal behavior among people with substance use disorders, greater ability to gain and maintain employment, and improved healthy births among pregnant women with substance use disorders.

What Medications Are Used in MAT Drug Treatment?

Alcohol Use Disorder Medications

• Acamprosate: helps to reduce cravings for alcohol by restoring normal brain function.
• Disulfiram: makes people feel sick if they drink alcohol while taking the medication. This helps to discourage drinking.
• Naltrexone: reduces cravings for alcohol by blocking the pleasant effects of drinking.

Opioid Dependence Medications

• Buprenorphine: reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms by binding to the same brain receptors as opioids.
• Methadone: reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms by mimicking the effects of opioids.
• Naltrexone: reduces cravings and the pleasant effects of opioids by blocking the brain receptors that are activated by opioids.

Opioid Overdose Prevention Medication

• Naloxone: reverses the effects of an opioid overdose by binding to the brain receptors that are activated by opioids.

How Are These Medications Used in MAT Treatment Program? 

MAT addiction treatment is individualized, so the type of medication you receive will be based on your specific needs. Your doctor will work with you to determine which medication is best for you.

However, in most situations, the medications are administered in the following ways: 

Alcohol Use Disorder Medications

• Acamprosate: Acamprosate is typically taken three times a day.
• Disulfiram: Disulfiram is taken once a day.
• Naltrexone: Naltrexone is taken once a day.

Opioid Dependence Medications

• Buprenorphine: Buprenorphine is typically taken once a day.
• Methadone: Methadone is taken once a day.
• Naltrexone: Naltrexone is taken once a day.

Opioid Overdose Prevention Medication

• Naloxone: Naloxone is typically taken as needed.

What Are the Side Effects of These Addiction Treatment Medications? 

Alcohol Use Disorder Medications

• Acamprosate: The most common side effects of acamprosate are diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
• Disulfiram: The most common side effects of disulfiram are drowsiness, headache, and skin rash.
• Naltrexone: The most common side effects of naltrexone are headache, nausea, and fatigue.

Opioid Dependence Medications

• Buprenorphine: The most common side effects of buprenorphine are constipation, headache, and nausea.
• Methadone: The most common side effects of methadone are drowsiness, dizziness, and constipation.
• Naltrexone: The most common side effects of naltrexone are headache, nausea, and fatigue.

How to Find MAT Drug Rehabs in New Jersey

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, there are many resources available to help. 

Relevance Recovery is a drug detox center in NJ that offers MAT treatment. You can search for a MAT program online or ask your doctor for a referral.

Relevance Recovery Provides Medication-Assisted Treatment for Addiction in New Jersey

At Relevance, we offer individualized drug and alcohol addiction treatment plans. 

As a support, we offer a variety of services, including medical detoxification, medication-assisted treatment, counseling, a teen support program, and aftercare planning. 

Finally, we accept most major insurance plans. Contact us today to speak with a qualified professional and learn more about our program and how we can help you or your loved one recover from addiction.

In terms of recovery success, crisis resolution is only half the battle. Achieving stability after a recovery program is often more challenging than recovery after an acute mental health crisis or addiction withdrawal. 

Drug and alcohol addiction relapse occurs when a person reinstates substance-seeking behavior.¹ In mental health disorders, some define relapse as occurring when a person first experiences an increase in symptoms from baseline, while others define relapse as re-hospitalization. Read further here for tips to learn how to avoid alcohol and drug relapse.

Identifying Early Signs

To avoid relapse, the first step is to identify personal signs of impending relapse. These will be individualized, but there are common themes. 

There are predictors for relapse in both the addiction and mental health spaces. A strong predictor for relapse within the mental health and addiction spaces is environmental or familial stress, including lack of resources at home, money constraints, and conflict with family members. Critical comments from family members are a powerful predictor of relapse.²

If we know that environmental stress is a strong predictor for addiction relapse, take it a step further and identify the specific type of environmental stress you or your loved one are prone to experiencing. If it is the lack of stable housing, include housing contingency plans in the treatment plan and ensure a financial plan is in place to secure appropriate housing.

Suppose we know that a holiday is coming up and that comments from family members will be made. In that case, a person may choose to forego family events to avoid triggers, or they may choose to engage in additional talk therapy sessions or meditations before the event. 

Spend time thinking about your or your loved one’s triggers or predictors of relapse. This helps to provide a sense of understanding and control and inform the treatment plan.

Treatment Plan to Avoid Relapse

A treatment plan should be developed with the assistance and guidance of your mental health provider or recovery counselor. Because families play an integral part in recovery and relapse, they should also be aware of and involved in the treatment plan.  

A treatment plan should address maintenance and crisis so that the person is supported daily as well as in cases of relapse. ²

The following models help maintain stability and reduce the likelihood of relapse:

Sober Network

A person who struggles with sobriety should protect herself by surrounding herself only with people who exemplify her current and future state. That means a person struggling with addiction should avoid situations in which she will be exposed to alcohol and drug use. That may represent the loss of a circle of friends or family members. While stepping away from those circles of comfort is undoubtedly challenging, her treatment plan can focus on the positive side of creating a new, sober network. 

Relationships are built upon the foundation of trust. Trusting her new network’s intentions and goals will provide comfort in times of stress. 

Due to the strong association between mental health disorders and substance abuse, it is wise to include this approach in the treatment plan for a person suffering from a mental health disorder. A sober network reduces the likelihood that a person suffering from a mental health disorder will self-medicate.  

Exercise Plan

Including an exercise plan has more benefits than helping to prevent relapse. It also promotes maintaining a healthy weight, increases muscle mass, and reduces the risk of secondary diseases. Regarding addiction, exercising activates the same chemical pathways as most drugs, effectively negating the need for pleasure stimulation from drugs. Exercise reduces stress and improves coping through directed energy release for mental health.

Interestingly, studies show that exercise performed outdoors is more beneficial than indoors. Also, people who report exercising outdoors report greater chances of repeating the exercise again.³

Family Guidelines

Integrate some guidelines into a treatment plan that outlines who, what, where, and when the family should contact the recoveree. Having some constraints will promote privacy and autonomy while having structure helps ensure support is provided. 

According to Johansen et al. (2021),

“Including the family in relapse prevention interventions has significantly proven to reduce relapse in both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.”

Productive Work

Having a dedicated space for the healthy expenditure of energy allows for personal development. We discussed exercise as an energy outlet, but there are many other ways to direct our energies. Most of our energy is directed toward our work and average daily activities. 

In the case of addiction, energy is focused on the sourcing of substances. In a mental health crisis, energy lacks focus and manifests as emotional and physical symptoms. 

Driving energy towards something productive allows an individual to take control over their decisions and reduces the likelihood of relapse. 

Productive work can be incorporated into a treatment plan, including community outreach, passion projects, and leadership opportunities. Community outreach and leadership improve feelings of worthiness and drive. Work that is fulfilling has a greater chance of sustaining results daily. The pursuit of a passion project allows for fulfillment through creativity and enjoyment. It is essential in the treatment plan to balance responsibility with passion.

Where Can I Get Help?

Help and support after recovery are available to you through Relevance Recovery and its aftercare program. This program is designed to improve long-term success through guided therapies that take a holistic approach. 

Your treatment plan identified through Relevance Recovery will include the methods above and many more exciting and valuable approaches. 

At Relevance Recovery, we partner with CFC Loud N Clear – a New Jersey 501c3 organization that aims to support long-term recovery through a sober, supportive network. Treatment is available to diagnosed individuals and their families. We specialize in providing treatment for any recovery period. Our individualized programs in New Jersey will help you or your loved one fight the disease that is impacting your life. You can even verify your insurance benefits prior to completing the entire admissions process. Contact us today to get started.

Sources:

1. Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2016). Neurobiology of addiction: a neurocircuitry analysis. The lancet. Psychiatry, 3(8), 760–773. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)00104-8

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27475769/

2. Johansen, K. K., Hounsgaard, L., Hansen, J. P., & Fluttert, F. (2021). Early Recognition Method – Amplifying relapse management in community mental health care; a comprehensive study of the effects on relapse and readmission. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 35(6), 587–594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2021.08.004

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34861950/

Research is done on observable problems. Interventions are designed based on research findings. Right now, research indicates the need for an expansion of treatment and prevention interventions specific to the LGBTQ community.

At Relevance Recovery, we use evidence-based therapies and unique alternative therapies designed to address substance use disorders and mental and behavioral health concerns. In addition, we tailor each treatment program to the specific needs of our clients to help them achieve their mental and behavioral health goals. 

If you are concerned that you or your loved one is struggling behaviorally due to drugs or other mental illnesses, contact a representative at Relevance Recovery today.

Addiction Statistics in LGBTQ Communities

The statistics describing the LGBTQ community are consistently higher than the general population. For example, 12.9% of LGBTQ adults suffer from both a substance use disorder and a mental illness as compared to a General population study which indicated that only 3.8% of adults struggle with both. In other words, one in five adults struggling with a substance use disorder and mental illness in 2019 identified as part of the LGBTQ community.

Furthermore, according to the 2018 national survey on drug use and health, more than one-third of LGBTQ adults reported marijuana use in the past year. This is more than 20% higher than the overall adult population reported. LGBTQ adults reported the past year’s opioid and alcohol use as higher than the general reporting population.

A study done on LGBTQ youth indicates that family violence after revealing sexuality impacts over one-third of LGBTQ youth. Additionally, more than 50% of young adults who identify as a sexual minority report bullying and harassment. Violence, bullying, and trauma are early risk factors for substance abuse. These statistics indicate a systemic issue in the LGBTQ community regarding acceptance, mental health, and substance abuse.

What Drugs are Commonly Abused in LGBTQ Communities?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration NSDUH Data Review, individuals who identify as a sexual minority are twice as likely to use any illicit drug than those in the sexual majority. Percentage data shows that individuals in the LGBTQ community use marijuana, prescription pain relievers, prescription tranquilizers, cocaine, hallucinogens, prescription stimulants, inhalants, methamphetamines, prescription sedatives, and heroin at double or more than the rate of heterosexual individuals. 

These drugs fall into two significant categories-party drugs and pain relievers. The use of stimulants, poppers, and hallucinogens is common in the party scene because of their ability to lower inhibitions and increase excitement. Pain relievers like prescription opioids, prescription tranquilizers, sedatives, and heroin all have a numbing and pain relieving quality.

How Addiction in LGBTQ Communities Influences Treatment and Prevention

Addiction treatment should be directly influenced by the clients it supports. For example, individuals in the LGBTQ community are more likely to develop a substance use disorder along with a significant mental illness, meaning that treatment is necessary for both conditions to be successful.

LGBTQ addiction treatment should address topics important to the community, including abandonment, acceptance, loneliness, bullying, trauma, personality disorders, rejection, and fear. 

Good addiction treatment addresses the individual as a whole and not just a disorder. That includes addressing topics important to the community and the clients and which is serving.

Finding the Best LGBTQ Rehabs Near Me

But finding addiction treatment that addresses all of these concerns can be difficult. Relevance Recovery is a comprehensive treatment facility that handles substance abuse and mental health. Our treatment programs utilize multiple pathways to recovery. We offer detoxification, inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, and generalized outpatient treatment. We also offer extensive aftercare and family group opportunities for clients to continue being supported following treatment. 

The supportive and experienced staff at Relevance Recovery know the importance of addressing the individual. With specific LGBTQ and first responder programming at our New Jersey rehab center, our clients can receive treatment in a location that makes them feel comfortable and not vulnerable. 
Contact Relevance Recovery today and speak with the admissions team to verify your insurance and learn more about our New Jersey addiction treatment programs.

Addiction treatment programs have higher successful outcomes when they are tailored to the specific needs of their clients. At Relevance Recovery, we offer targeted New Jersey drug rehab for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Our treatment program is designed to address specific LGBTQIA+ community concerns while providing a safe space to recover. Speak with an admissions coordinator today to see how we can support you with our transgender drug rehab program.

Are LGBTQ Persons at Higher Risk of Developing an Addiction?

Based on documented research on LGBTQ individuals and addiction, studies have determined that individuals in the community have a higher likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse. According to a National Institute on Drug Abuse survey, approximately 33% of LGBTQ adults and youth have used marijuana in the last year. Additionally, LGBTQ individuals are three times as likely to abuse prescription opioids. Alcohol use is also higher in LGBTQ youth than in heterosexual youth.

Are there Trans-Friendly Addiction Treatment Programs?

Transgender addiction treatment programs do exist. They are designed to address substance-abuse issues and critical concerns common in the trans community. Through a unique combination of evidence-based and nontraditional therapies, transgender clients receive supportive balanced mental and physical health care.

Cognitive behavioral and dialectic behavior therapy are two standard evidence-based treatment programs that benefit individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community. Transgender individuals can learn to address risky behavior and other problematic behaviors developed in response to the individual, relationship, and societal expectations. Additionally, transgender and LGBTQ-friendly treatment programs address community concerns about identity, sexual orientation, acceptance, and trauma in a non-threatening community-minded approach. LGBTQ-friendly addiction programs address “unique factors in these patients’ lives that may include homophobia/transphobia, family problems, violence, and social isolation.” 

Another essential aspect of transgender addiction treatment is the critical focus on nutrition and physical health. Eating disorders and body dysmorphia are more common in transgender and non-binary individuals, typically due to societal expectations. By providing holistic addiction treatment in its approach to wellness, transgender individuals can focus on developing safe and healthy coping mechanisms and self-care rituals that promote a positive body image. 

Additional types of addiction treatment that have benefited individuals in the LGBTQ community that may be a part of Trans-friendly addiction treatment are “motivational interviewing, social support therapy, and contingency management.” 

What are the Benefits of a Transgender Drug Rehab Program?

The most supportive aspect of a transgender drug rehab program is the support groups. In trans-friendly and LGBTQ-friendly addiction treatment, clients will often have the opportunity to participate in group therapy with a small group of like-minded individuals; this provides a safe and open environment for individuals who have struggled in the LGBTQ community to feel accepted and valued.

Another positive aspect of a transgender addiction program revolves around the idea of safety and acceptance. LGBTQ individuals report higher instances of feeling unsafe or unwelcome. Additionally, violence against transgender individuals is incredibly high. A transgender person is four times more likely to be a violent crime victim than a cisgender individual. LGBTQ-friendly addiction treatment is designed to provide a safe space for individuals.

Finally, LGBTQ-friendly addiction treatment centers design their treatment programs around common co-occurring disorders. LGBTQ addiction treatment addresses anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and trauma. While each program is designed to meet the needs and goals of the individual, The availability of treatment to meet the mental health needs of the clients creates a positive atmosphere that promotes holistic healing. 

How to Find Transgender Addiction Treatment in Monmouth County

Finding transgender addiction treatment in Monmouth County, New Jersey, is accessible through Relevance Recovery. Our comprehensive addiction treatment facility offers several programs designed to support individuals through every step of addiction treatment and recovery.

Located in Freehold, New Jersey, our specialized and compassionate addiction and mental health treatment for members of the LGBTQIA+ community address social, emotional, and personal challenges. Offering multiple pathways for successful treatment, our addiction treatment programs assess progress and provide a seamless transition through detoxification, inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, generalized outpatient treatment, and aftercare. Contact a treatment specialist today to learn more about our outpatient addiction treatment in New Jersey.

Everyone has heard the statement, “firefighters run in while others run out.“ But how do firefighters handle the stress of running into a life-threatening situation?

Firefighters, police officers, and EMS are at a greater risk for developing stress-related disorders, substance abuse disorders, and many other behavioral health concerns. Based on this information, programs have been designed to support first responders through critical incident stress management, substance-abuse treatment, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

At Relevance Recovery, we have specially designed a treatment program for first responders that addresses the needs and concerns of the community. Contact us today to learn more about our Freehold, New Jersey First Responder addiction treatment program.

How Does Addiction Impact Firefighters?

Based on the nature of their jobs, firefighters experience more stress, sleep disruptions, and death than the general public. This combination can “[lead] to emotional and behavioral health problems, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress-related illnesses, and suicide.” Additionally, firefighters may have additional barriers, including stigma and cost of treatment, based on their job, that prevent them from seeking mental health services.

Based on a 2017 study, approximately 50% of male firefighters reported heavy or binge alcohol drinking in the past month. Female firefighters reported that more than 60% drank more than the recommended amount, while 40% binge drank. These statistics more than double the percent of females reporting heavy drinking and binge drinking and the general population. Another study of Alcohol Use Among Firefighters in the Central United States indicated that 9% of career and 10% of volunteer firefighters self-reported driving while intoxicated in the last month.

When it comes to behavioral healthcare services, volunteer firefighters were less likely to report the availability of drug and alcohol services. Career firefighters were more likely to report a lack of support from leadership, fear of breach of confidentiality, and clinicians who are unaware of work culture as barriers to accessing treatment.

Is There Addiction Treatment for First Responders?

There is addiction treatment for first responders. Studies evaluating the quality of life for professional and volunteer firefighters have demonstrated the need for specific treatment surrounding substance abuse in the fire fighting community that addresses stress management, trauma counseling, and resiliency tools.

Agencies worldwide like the National Interagency Wildland Fire and Aviation Critical Incident Stress Management Program are dedicated to providing support for firefighters that address substance abuse and behavioral health concerns related to critical incidents and trauma.

What Does First Responders Addiction Treatment Entail?

Addiction treatment is the same. Addiction treatment for first responders combines traditional evidence-based substance-abuse treatment with behavioral healthcare that addresses mental health concerns like post-traumatic stress, suicidal ideation and suicide, and depression which are heightened in the firefighting community.

Firefighters entering treatment often benefit most from dual diagnosis treatment or a treatment program that is specifically designed to address the frequent problems that first responders deal with. A first responder treatment program should be multifaceted, including individual, group, and family therapy. It should also implement a holistic treatment program that addresses physical, behavioral, and mental health.

Finding Drug Rehab for Firefighters?

Not every program is designed to be the most beneficial for each individual. For example, finding drug rehab for firefighters can be difficult if the treatment program is not intended for first responders.

At Relevance Recovery, we have a specifically designed treatment program for first responders that addresses physical, mental, and behavioral health concerns. Our program utilizes multiple treatment methods and evidence-based therapy models in order to provide first responders with the support they need. Through a combination of evidence-based programs like cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and peer support groups, our Clinicians are trained to support individuals who are typically in charge and who take control of stressful situations. In addition, through First Responder peer support groups, first responders can tackle the stigma of addiction by addressing their concerns with like-minded individuals from similar backgrounds.
Our Monmouth County treatment facility offers detoxification, inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment, and generalized outpatient treatment. We also have family group therapy, teen and adolescent programs, and support programs for families with interventions. Our comprehensive facility is designed to help you or your loved one through every stage of the addiction treatment process, making it as easy as possible for you to transition through the steps of recovery.

Addiction treatment is often thought of as either inpatient treatment that lasts for months or outpatient treatment that is infrequent and ineffective. But there is a middle ground. Intensive outpatient rehab meets multiple times a week, provides supportive medication-assisted therapy, and helps clients build a local community of like-minded individuals.

At Relevance Recovery, our Freehold, New Jersey, rehab provides treatment for substance abuse and mental illness. We have specific programs for teens and adolescents, are LGBTQ-friendly, and provide specific addiction treatment for first responders in New Jersey. Our philosophy is designed around knowing and fully understanding the needs of the individual in treatment. 

What is Intensive Outpatient Treatment?

Intensive outpatient treatment, commonly known as IOP, is an intermediary level between inpatient rehabilitation and generalized outpatient treatment. And IOP clients are able to live at home or in a sober living house where they travel to and from treatment frequently during the week. Intensive outpatient programs meet a minimum of nine hours a week over three days but can be as intensive as eight hours of treatment a day, seven days a week. Typical IOP falls somewhere in the mid-range.

The core services of intensive outpatient programs include group counseling and therapy, individual counseling, psychoeducational programming, pharmacotherapy, and medication management. Along with 24-hour crisis coverage and community-based support groups, individuals in IOP work on relapse prevention, enhancing self-efficacy for handling risky situations, developing educational and vocational skills, and maintaining balance in life.

A study completed on the effectiveness of the service indicates that intensive outpatient care is as effective as inpatient treatment in most cases.

What are the Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Treatment?

In intensive outpatient treatment, group counseling and therapy can be as effective as one-to-one treatment. Individuals are split into psychoeducational, skill development, support, and interpersonal processing groups. Through this process, clients have the opportunity to advance their individual recovery by learning to work with a group and communicate their feelings and needs effectively.

Finally, a benefit of intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment programs is the focus on individualized treatment designed to support clients’ daily progress. Intensive outpatient rehab programs require individuals to be motivated but provide them with the necessary skills. For example, many clients in intensive outpatient programs related to alcohol abuse will be prescribed medication to support their detoxification and sobriety. This is closely monitored by a doctor or other medical professional and helps clients balance their cravings.

How to Find an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program in New Jersey

If you’re interested in finding an intensive outpatient treatment program in New Jersey, look no further than Relevance Recovery. Our comprehensive  Monmouth County treatment programs is designed to provide our clients with precisely what they need to advance along the path of recovery. With multiple pathways to recovery, our clients have access to treatment at every level. Inpatient, intensive outpatient, and outpatient treatment, along with detoxification and aftercare programming, allow individuals to become clients at any stage of the recovery process.

Our intensive outpatient program is three hours a day, three or five days a week. With a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, we work to help transform your thoughts and reactions. After completing your individualized treatment program, our facility offers outpatient treatment and aftercare programming.

Relevance Recovery offers family group therapy, teen and adolescent programming, and interventions for individuals who are trying to help their loved ones. In addition, we treat clients with substance abuse disorders, mental illnesses, and those with a dual diagnosis in a non-judgemental and supportive manner. Asking for help can be challenging, and we support our clients with dignity through this process. 
Contact the admissions team today to see the options that meet your needs.

Medication-assisted treatment programs are designed to support individuals through detoxification and treatment and are widely available across the United States, including the state of New Jersey. A medication-assisted treatment program in New Jersey provide individuals with a specific medication that mimics the drug abused to reduce detoxification symptoms while undergoing treatment. By taking a medication prescribed by a doctor, individuals can be weaned off the medicine safely, promoting both physical and mental health.

At Relevance Recovery, our medical professionals believe that substance abuse treatment should address a client’s mental, physical, and emotional health. To that end, our clinicians offer medication-assisted treatment to support clients through detoxification and treatment to reduce withdrawal symptoms and the risk of relapse. 

To find out more, speak with an admissions team member today.

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is a medical intervention to promote healthy and sustainable abstinence from mind-altering drugs and assist clients in achieving their sobriety goals. 

Medication-assisted treatments are FDA approved to assist individuals during recovery and are available to help with addiction to multiple types of drugs. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, MAT is a valid course of treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and has been proven clinically effective in reducing the need for inpatient detoxification.

The most common medication-assisted treatment programs are available for opioids and alcohol addiction. With over 2 million people struggling with opioid abuse and the availability of alcohol, individuals struggling with addiction to these two common addictions now have options. In addition, individuals struggling with other types of addiction can look into new treatments, but none are available widely on the market yet. 

Medication-assisted treatment is federally required to be covered by your insurance through the same Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act that requires insurance companies to cover mental health and substance abuse treatment. Therefore, it is important to check with your insurance company to see how your specific plan covers addiction treatment and the percentage at which it is covered. 

Medically assisted treatment programs are widely available across the country due to a strong FDA push to recognize the benefits of treatment through other medications like buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone in combination with behavioral counseling and psychosocial therapy. Medically assisted treatment is always recommended to be paired with mental health treatment to ensure that the root cause of addiction is addressed. Using the medication stops the adverse side effects of use, but mental health care treats the addiction.

What are the Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatment Programs?

Medication-assisted treatment programs benefit individuals looking to jump-start the recovery process. The most noted benefit is a significant reduction in the need for inpatient rehabilitation for individuals using medication to support detoxification. These medications act similarly to opioids without providing a mind-altering state. Through this process, a medical professional can prescribe a recommended dose and ween an individual off the drug safely to reduce the likelihood of intense withdrawal and detox symptoms. 

According to SAMSHA, participating in medication-assisted treatment also has several other noticeable benefits. Through this process, observable positive outcomes include:

• Improve patient survival
• Increase retention in treatment
• Decrease illicit opiate use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders
• Increase patients’ ability to gain and maintain employment

These benefits provide individuals a more significant opportunity for success throughout the recovery process. In addition, individuals who participate in medication-assisted treatment programs also reduce the risk of relapse.

Is There a Medication-Assisted Treatment Program in New Jersey?

Relevance Recovery is a Freehold, New Jersey, rehab center providing comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment options in New Jersey. We offer medication-assisted treatment programs for our participants. We believe that MAT is a valid part of our holistic treatment program. Our clients can learn the skills and processes necessary to alter their lifestyle to one that promotes sobriety and addresses mental health needs through medication, behavioral, and social therapies. 

We help people find recovery through multiple treatment pathways. Our facility offers treatment through every level of intensity. Our clients can access detoxification, inpatient, partial hospitalization, outpatient, and aftercare treatment programs. We also support family members and loved ones with family therapy, interventions, and specialized treatment programs for teens and adolescents. 

We believe in creating relevant recovery options for all individuals at Relevance Recovery. Our LGBTQ+ rehab program in New Jersey addresses the needs of first responders and has many nutritional options for individuals with specific dietary needs, like maintaining a Kosher or vegan diet through recovery.

Learn more today by speaking with an admissions team member to see how our programs can provide you with relevant recovery opportunities.

When depression, anxiety, worry, fear, or stress have a detrimental impact on your daily functioning, you may look to dull your symptoms with alcohol. Alcohol can bring about a temporary sense of calm and relaxation that is a welcome relief from your mental health symptoms. Unfortunately, using alcohol to manage symptoms associated with mental illness often leads to additional problems, including the physical and psychological impacts of an alcohol use disorder or alcohol addiction.

How Does Alcohol Impact the Brain?

Your brain is skilled at adaptation. It can physically alter its structure to adapt itself to your environment. This allows you to perform better and more efficiently at whatever you are doing. If you are participating in healthy hobbies or activities, this is beneficial to your performance and function. However, if you consistently drink, alcohol impacts the brain and may begin to alter its form and function to help you function better with alcohol in your system.

When this happens, the brain changes how nerve cells communicate. It changes how the reward centers in the brain operate, resulting in increased cravings for alcohol and the feeling that one “cannot function” without alcohol in their system. Alcohol use also makes it more difficult for the brain areas that control speech, memory, balance, and judgment to perform their jobs. Unfortunately, some of these changes are irreversible.

Depending on the severity and duration of your addiction, once an alcoholic stops drinking, some of the alterations to the brain and its function may remain a problem throughout their lives. In some instances, alcohol and dependency can lead to new or worsening mental health symptoms or co-occurring disorders (a mental illness and simultaneous alcohol addiction) that require specialized treatment to overcome safely.

How Does Alcohol Affect Mental Health?

Alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cause physical and functional changes in the brain. Short-term effects of alcohol use on the brain (and brain functions) include blackouts, memory problems, poor judgment, and mood changes. Chronic, untreated alcohol addiction often leads to mental health effects that are more severe and sometimes permanent. These may include mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and others.

When you struggle with both a mental health condition and an alcohol use disorder (alcohol addiction or alcoholism), it is called a co-occurring disorder or dual diagnosis. Some statistics suggest up to half of those who struggle with a mental illness also experience symptoms related to a substance use disorder.

Dual diagnosis conditions frequently occur because of self-medication. Many people turn to alcohol to cope with symptoms of a mental health condition. Using alcohol to reduce or manage the severity of symptoms is not without potential dangers. In some instances, alcohol use will help alleviate symptoms for a short time; however, once the alcohol wears off, undesirable symptoms return.

Sometimes when the fear, sadness, or stress returns, it does so in a more severe and more intense way leading you to drink more often and more frequently to keep these feelings at bay. Using alcohol to self-medicate is a common but ineffective solution that often causes worsening symptoms. For some, using alcohol to manage mental health symptoms may also cause new symptoms to appear. This is especially true when you try to reduce or stop drinking and experience withdrawal.

How to Find Mental Health and Alcohol Treatment Services

When you struggle with alcohol addiction and mental health symptoms, the best way to achieve and maintain lasting sobriety is to choose a New Jersey treatment program like Relevance Recovery, where dual diagnosis treatment is available. In a New Jersey dual diagnosis rehab program, your treatment team will work with you to design a plan that addresses all areas of your physical and psychological health.

As part of a comprehensive, evidence-based therapy program, you will learn how to identify, examine and then change the thoughts and behaviors that lead to harmful, such as using alcohol to self-medicate. Your treatment team at Relevance Recovery will also help you learn more about triggers and how to manage triggering situations or people without using alcohol. Learning and practicing new, healthy, and safer coping tools is a vital step on your journey to lasting recovery.

Contact us today for more information about our programs if you would like to learn more about dual diagnosis treatment and how our experienced, compassionate team at Relevance Recovery can help you find freedom from alcohol and mental health symptoms.

Statistics from multiple studies show that up to half of those who seek help to overcome a mental health or substance use disorder have a dual diagnosis. Depending on the person, they may understand their symptoms come from two causes; however, this is not the case for all. Although little scientific evidence supports the idea that one disorder causes the other, it is not uncommon for ongoing mental health struggles to lead to poor coping choices, which can inevitably cause addiction.

What Does Dual Diagnosis Mean?

Until recently, a misguided belief existed among medical and mental health treatment professionals alike that dual diagnosis conditions should be treated as part of separate treatment programs. Unfortunately, this led to millions of people who needed comprehensive treatment to address two highly interconnected illnesses receiving less than optimal treatment.

Fortunately, treatment professionals now understand the connection between addiction and mental health. Today, treatment centers like Relevance Recovery specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are here to guide you through each step of your treatment journey.

When someone has a dual diagnosis, they struggle with symptoms connected to a mental health condition and a substance use disorder. Because dual diagnosis conditions share many overlapping symptoms, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to separate the symptoms into two distinct conditions. Therefore, it is crucial for treatment plans to address your mental health and substance use needs.

What are Common Dual Diagnosis Disorders?

Any combination of mental health and substance use disorders is a dual diagnosis; therefore, multiple possible combinations exist. You may also hear this referred to as a co-occurring disorder in many treatment settings. Although the meanings behind the two terms vary ever so slightly, they are frequently used interchangeably to describe a simultaneously occurring mental health and substance use disorder.

• Individuals (regardless of age) diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at a statistically higher risk of developing dual diagnosis conditions. Several studies indicate up to 50% of adults diagnosed with ADHD also have a substance use disorder.
• Eating disorders and substance use disorders also frequently co-occur. Recent statistics from the National Center for addiction and substance use suggest up to half of those diagnosed with an eating disorder also abuse drugs.
• Substance use disorders are believed to occur in up to 17% of patients diagnosed with clinical depression or major depressive disorder.
• Statistics surrounding mood disorders such as bipolar disorder indicate that 30% of patients with a mood disorder have a substance use disorder.
• The rated cooccurrence for alcohol or drug use disorders for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder is believed to be as high as 50%. This statistic may be even higher in individuals with specific trauma histories or job functions that expose them to ongoing trauma.
• As many as one-quarter of patients who seek help to overcome symptoms of a personality disorder such as borderline personality disorder also have at least one addiction.

What is Dual Diagnosis Treatment?

When you struggle with a dual diagnosis disorder, the root causes of your symptoms are highly intertwined. Therefore, seeking help at a dual diagnosis treatment center means you will receive treatment in an environment where medical and mental health professionals understand the unique nature of addressing both conditions simultaneously. A dual diagnosis program ensures your level of care, and the treatment models applied to your treatment programs address all areas of your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Therapy in a dual diagnosis program is designed to identify and address the mental health conditions that may lie at the root of substance use disorders. Additionally, therapy strives to uncover how ongoing substance use may contribute to worsening mental health symptoms. A key benefit to dual diagnosis treatment is that it helps you learn more about how addiction and mental health are connected.

It will also teach you safe and effective coping tools you could use in the future to avoid using substances to medicate your mental health symptoms. As part of therapy, you will learn more about your triggers and how they impact your behaviors and encourage you to engage in potentially harmful coping strategies. As part of comprehensive treatment, your mental health and medical providers will work with you to develop a plan to safely manage your triggers so you can avoid relapse after treatment is complete.

How to Find Dual Diagnosis Treatment Programs Near Me

The most effective treatment for dual diagnosis is a program where the staff works directly with you to develop a treatment program unique to your needs and goals. Because everyone experiences the journey to recovery differently, it is crucial to design recovery plans around the individual, not their diagnosis. 
At Relevance Recovery, our admissions and therapeutic staff will work with you to ensure you receive the comprehensive, evidence-based care you need to put dual diagnosis challenges in the past and move forward free from addiction and mental health symptoms. If you would like to learn more about our addiction treatment programs in New Jersey, contact us today for more information or schedule a tour of our facility.