Category: treatment

For many years there has been significant debate surrounding the potential medicinal qualities of marijuana. Specific components of marijuana, specifically THC, have proven medical benefits when used in treating several acute and chronic conditions. To date, the Federal Food and Drug Administration has approved several THC based medications which are used to treat symptoms related to cancer and AIDS treatment. THC and another component of marijuana, CBD, are commonly used in medicines for treating chronic pain treatment and childhood epilepsy. 

Marijuana has been a proven, successful treatment for several conditions over the last decade. Today, marijuana is being looked at, and in some cases, used as a treatment for opioid addiction. However, many questions remain regarding its success in limiting opioid addiction and overdose death. 

What Is Medical Marijuana?

By definition, medical marijuana (or medical cannabis) is cannabis and cannabinoids prescribed by physicians for patients struggling with the symptoms of specific illnesses. Due to previous legislation having made cannabis illegal across the nation, there is a minimal amount of research proving or disproving the efficacy of cannabis as a medical treatment. However, it has been used for many years to reduce symptoms related to glaucoma, nausea, and pain induced by chemotherapy and various other conditions, including chronic pain management and neurological disorders. 

How Is Medical Marijuana Used to Treat Opioid Addiction?

Despite ongoing pushes to legalize marijuana across the nation, medical marijuana remains a highly controversial medical treatment. Opioid addiction is one of the newest medical conditions for which medical marijuana is an up-and-coming treatment. Although the idea of using a drug (that is still illegal in over half of the United States) to treat an addiction to another illegal drug may seem counterintuitive, marijuana has shown promise in helping individuals addicted to opioids safely wean off them. 

Detoxing and withdrawing from opioids can be very difficult and, in some cases, dangerous. While often legally prescribed, opioids can be highly addictive, and once a legal prescription runs out, some find themselves searching for other means to obtain them. Addiction to opioids can happen after just a.few doses. With continued use and abuse, tolerance to opioids increases resulting in the need to use more and more to obtain the same “high.” This increasing use pattern significantly increases the risk of overdose. 

The goal of opioid addiction treatment is always abstinence; however, total abstinence is not always immediately possible.  Consequently, addiction treatment centers provide several options to withdraw and detox from opioids at a rate that makes patients as comfortable as possible. Medical marijuana may be a viable option. Marijuana contains cannabinoids (chemicals), including THC, which result in mind-altering effects when used. The two primary chemicals in marijuana, THC, and CBD, provide similar effects as opioids when used to treat chronic medical conditions. Marijuana, if used as an alternative treatment for conditions in which opioids are traditionally prescribed, could begin to turn the tide of opioid addiction. If used in a treatment setting, opioids can help with harm reduction while helping opioid addicted people wean off opioids. It is essential to note that marijuana is not meant to be a cure for addiction, yet a means of assisting with symptom reduction.

Relevance Recovery Is Actively Fighting Opioid Addiction 

There is no cookie-cutter treatment for opioid addiction. Medical marijuana is currently an option that may show promise when used in conjunction with existing evidence-based therapies such as behavioral therapy, nutritional counseling, addiction education, dual-diagnosis care, and other medically assisted detox methods. Any treatment model used to manage opioid addiction should be used in conjunction with a robust therapeutic treatment program and aftercare planning. Opioids have a significant impact on mood and behaviors, and thought processes, as well as effects on your physical health. All of these combine to make withdrawal challenging and increase the chances of relapse. If you are struggling with opioid addiction and are ready to seek help, contact us at Relevance Behavioral Health today. Let our experienced addiction treatment staff help you start on the path to recovery.

In the late ’90s, the medical community struggled to find a means for treating chronic and acute pain without utilizing existing drugs that were considered addictive. During this time, pharmaceutical companies presented medical providers with opioid pain medications, reassuring them that patients would not become addicted while using them. Consequently, prescriptions for opioid pain medications rose at significant rates leading to widespread misuse as it became clear these medications were indeed highly addictive. In 2017 alone, nearly 50,000 Americans died due to opioid overdose, including prescription opioids, heroin, and illegally manufactured fentanyl. As the medical and legal communities began to focus on reducing the amount of opioids medications “on the street,” those struggling with addiction began to turn to illegal drugs such as heroin to obtain the same high. 

The Devastating Truth About Heroin Addiction

Prescription opioids such as OxyContin and Vicodin have similar effects on the body to heroin. Consequently, when those addicted to prescription drugs have difficulty obtaining their drug of choice, they often turn to heroin as a substitute. Research has shown about 6% of those who misuse prescription drugs eventually switch to heroin, and as many as 80% of those who currently struggle with a heroin addiction first misused prescription opioids. 

Heroin is a highly addictive drug. When you use heroin frequently, it is easy to develop a tolerance leading to needing to ingest higher or more frequent doses to achieve the same “high.” The need to use more often leads to overdose if one does not seek addiction treatment

 and medically assisted detox. In 2018, approximately 15,000 people died from a drug overdose involving heroin in the United States. Although overdose rates slowly declined between 2017 and today, nearly one-third of all overdose deaths still involve heroin. 

Heroin Treatment in New Jersey Explained

Although choosing to seek addiction treatment can be difficult, it is essential to detox from heroin in a safe environment. Heroin and other opioids can produce intense and sometimes life-threatening side effects when you stop using. For this reason, it is highly recommended you seek an addiction treatment center that offers medically assisted detox to help you defeat a heroin addiction. Treatment for heroin addiction often includes various forms of treatment, including medications and behavioral therapies.

Medications are generally used early on (during detox) to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make the detox process safer and more manageable. There are also certain medications that can be used during and after detox to help reduce cravings by blocking the receptors in the brain heroin typically binds to. This helps to prevent the drug from having the same effect. 

It is important to remember that detox is only the first step in heroin treatment in New Jersey. Once detox is complete, it is essential to participate in addiction treatment therapy to help modify drug-seeking behaviors. Various behavioral therapies are used during treatment to teach effective coping skills that can be used after treatment ends.

How to Get Help with A Heroin Addiction

There are many heroin addiction treatment options available. The first and most essential step is to determine your specific treatment needs. For example, do you have a co-occurring mental health condition or addiction? It is important to consider those needs when choosing an addiction treatment center. If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can contact your primary care provider for a referral or look to one of the many online resources designed to help educate you about addiction treatment. Finally, you can also directly contact an addiction treatment center like Relevance Recovery in New Jersey to talk to an admissions counselor and ask any questions you may have about heroin addiction treatment. It is possible to achieve sobriety after a heroin addiction. Let our caring and compassionate staff at Relevance Recovery help you reach that goal. 

When considering addiction treatment, there are many different options to choose from. It can quickly become challenging to narrow down all of the possible alternatives to find the one that best suits your unique needs. Although the level of service provided at an inpatient addiction treatment program is highly beneficial, it may not be necessary for everyone. In some cases, a partial hospitalization program may provide effective addiction treatment in a setting that does not require you to stay on-site at the facility. 

What Is A PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) In Addiction Treatment?

Partial hospitalization programs or PHPs provide you the opportunity to receive comprehensive addiction treatment without requiring time away from home at an inpatient facility. Many partial hospitalization programs offer addiction therapy options similar to those found in an inpatient setting. Some of the most common programs include behavioral therapies, individual counseling, group counseling, family counseling, and alternative therapies such as music or art therapy.

The primary difference between an inpatient addiction treatment program and a partial hospitalization program is that inpatient programs require an overnight stay. Inpatient programs provide care on a 24/7 basis, ensuring care is available anytime it may be needed. During your stay at an inpatient program, you will receive meals, medical care, housing, and various other benefits typically not available as part of a partial hospitalization program. However, these added features also contribute to a higher cost of treatment. Most inpatient programs last a minimum of thirty days, with some lasting as long as six months, depending on your individual treatment needs.

At a partial hospitalization program, you can receive similar intensive addiction treatment while remaining at home with family and loved ones throughout the duration of your program. Partial hospitalization programs are typically more demanding than other outpatient programs as they require more sessions per week. Most partial hospitalization programs are similar in intensity to residential or inpatient programs. The number of weekly sessions and the duration of each session will depend on your specific treatment needs.

Who Would Benefit from Going to A PHP In New Jersey?

Partial hospitalization programs are an excellent option for you if you have recently completed an inpatient program but do not feel “stable” yet without ongoing support. These programs can help you through the transition from a residential program back to your daily routine. Partial hospitalization programs in New Jersey are also suggested if you need detox services or your current family or employment situation does not allow for you to be away from home for an extended time. 

It is essential to remember that addiction treatment is an ongoing process. Once detox is complete, continued therapy will be required for quite some time before you successfully achieve sobriety and lasting recovery. To achieve a full recovery, it is essential to receive both medical and psychological support throughout all addiction treatment stages. Many partial hospitalization programs ensure you have access to exercise and nutrition programs in addition to traditional therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy), group activities, and holistic treatments. The specific services offered will depend on the program; therefore, if a particular alternative treatment or a specific type of therapy is of interest to you, it is important to contact the facility to determine if those programs are offered.

Relevance Behavioral Health Is Here for You

At Relevance Behavioral Health, we understand the challenges and difficulties you may face when deciding to seek addiction treatment. With so many different treatment options available, it can be challenging to determine what level of care will best suit your treatment needs. If you are ready to seek addiction treatment in New Jersey and wonder whether a partial hospitalization program might be right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Relevance Behavioral Health in Freehold, NJ. Let us answer any questions you may have about our services and our programs so we can help get you started on the path to sobriety and a life free of substance use.

Intensive outpatient programs are often the next step after completing an inpatient residential program. At an intensive outpatient program like Relevance Recovery in Freehold, New Jersey, you will have the freedom to resume daily life while continuing to progress through the steps of addiction treatment. For some, depending on the severity of your addiction, it may be necessary to complete an inpatient addiction treatment program before “stepping down” to an intensive outpatient program. For others, this type of program may be the best first step towards sobriety. 

Defining Intensive Outpatient treatment

An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, is an addiction treatment program where you will attend addiction treatment several days each week for several hours each day. Intensive outpatient programs generally meet on weekdays and provide programs consisting of group therapy, individual therapy, and sometimes other services such as employment assistance. Most intensive outpatient programs last ninety days (although some can last longer) and include mandatory drug testing. An intensive outpatient program is more time-intensive than a standard outpatient program. 

How Is IOP Different from Inpatient Treatment?

The most notable difference between an intensive outpatient program and an inpatient or residential addiction treatment program is that those who participate in an inpatient program live at the facility throughout their treatment. Also, residential treatment programs offer various services, treatment options, and amenities that intensive outpatient (and traditional outpatient) programs typically do not. For example, an inpatient program provides meals, housing, comprehensive medical care, nutrition services, and recreational opportunities. Many of these services are necessary due to the structure of the program. 

Inpatient programs provide medical and therapeutic care on a 24-hour per day basis. During a residential program, medical monitoring, mental health supervision, and nutritional support are available in a structured environment away from known triggers. Inpatient residential programs can be more expensive than outpatient programs and require a time commitment away from loved ones or work commitments. 

Intensive outpatient programs provide the ability to live at home while receiving addiction treatment services.  Intensive outpatient treatment programs are traditionally less expensive and provide flexibility around treatment session scheduling. The most notable benefit to intensive outpatient programs may also be the most significant challenge. Throughout the duration of treatment in an intensive outpatient program, you remain integrated into your home community. This means it is not unreasonable to assume you will be exposed to the same people, situations, or events that both led to and further propagated ongoing substance abuse. There is also a notable lack of access to on-site medical care and detox services commonly available in an inpatient setting. 

Another difference between intensive outpatient addiction treatment programs and inpatient residential programs is duration. An inpatient program can vary from as few as thirty days to as long as six months. How long you remain in treatment will depend on various factors, including the severity of your addiction, if you need detox, if this will be your first time in an inpatient addiction treatment program, and overall physical and mental health. Intensive outpatient programs generally last for at least ninety days; however, some can last longer depending on your specific treatment needs. During an inpatient program, you will have a treatment schedule consisting of several hours of daily therapy sessions between three and five days per week. Most treatment programs consist of around thirty hours of in-person treatment each week.  

Intensive outpatient programs are generally well suited for those who have just completed an inpatient program. An IOP may also be recommended if your home environment is stable and supportive, your addiction is less severe, and you do not struggle with a co-occurring mental health condition. 

Benefits of Going to an Intensive Outpatient in New Jersey

Intensive outpatient treatment programs focus on helping you maintain abstinence while helping you develop healthy coping skills and a strong “sober” support system. Intensive outpatient programs in New Jersey use multiple evidence-based therapy models to help you achieve and maintain long-lasting sobriety. Our Freehold, New Jersey intensive outpatient program will work with you to develop an addiction treatment program that meets your unique treatment goals and aftercare needs. If you believe an intensive outpatient program may be right for you, contact us at Relevance Recovery to learn more about our New Jersey Intensive Outpatient Program. 

When the topic of prescription pill addiction is raised, the first drugs that often come to mind are pain killers and some anti-anxiety medications. Although some of the most common, these are not the only prescription medications people abuse. Other drugs, including opioids, benzodiazepines, sedatives, and stimulant drugs, also add to the number of annual prescription drug addiction cases. 

In 2017, data showed more than 18 million people over the age of 12 had misused prescription medications in the last year. That equates to approximately 6% of the United States population. Of those, only a small percentage will seek or complete addiction treatment, further adding to the number of people struggling with pill addictions nationwide. Although current data is not available, it is likely safe to assume, based on historical information, these numbers have only continued to rise over the last few years.

Are Prescription Pills Addictive?

If misused, prescription drugs can be dangerous, even lethal, depending on the drug and the dose taken. It is for this reason that they are only available by prescription and after a comprehensive medical evaluation. Unfortunately, over the past decade, the volume of prescriptions written for opioids and other prescription drugs skyrocketed, resulting in a significant increase in “available” drugs outside of legal prescriptions. 

Prescription medications are designed to target specific conditions; however, they also impact the body and mind in other ways. Opioids are generally considered the most addictive prescription drugs. When taken (even correctly), many of these drugs have mind-altering effects similar to those of street drugs. The effects on your brain are achieved through impacts on the neurotransmitters in the brain. Instead of sending pain or displeasure messages, the drugs block those signals resulting in feelings of euphoria and happiness over pain and displeasure. 

They also cause the build-up of other chemicals in the brain, helping you feel energetic and “up.” When abused, these drugs lead to an increase in the chemicals that cause pleasure. It is easy to become addicted to the feelings these drugs provide, and without addiction treatment, it can be challenging to achieve the same feelings of pleasure and energy without the use of substances.

Commonly Abused Prescription Pills

Unfortunately, many who develop an addiction to prescription pills do so after being prescribed the medication for a legitimate reason. Also, many teens and young adults believe prescription drugs to be “safer” than other drugs because a medical professional prescribes them; therefore, they are more likely to look to those substances for use and misuse. Prescription pill abuse often occurs in four categories of drugs.

Opioids

Opioids or prescription painkillers are prescribed for the treatment of severe or chronic pain conditions. They are also among the most over prescribed medication classes. Common opioids include OxyContin, Lortab, Morphine, and Percocet.

Stimulants

Ritalin, a commonly prescribed stimulant, is typically prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy; however, it is also frequently abused due to the energizing effects it produces. Other medications similar to Ritalin include Concerta and Adderall.

Sedatives and Tranquilizers

Sedatives and tranquilizers are quite similar and generally produce the same intoxicating effects. This category includes sleeping pills, classified as sedative-hypnotics, and benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines or “benzos” are a form of prescription sedative commonly prescribed to treat anxiety symptoms or to help with insomnia. The most frequently prescribed benzodiazepines are Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Klonopin.

Reach Out to Relevance Recovery Today! 

Relevance Recovery in Freehold, NJ, can help you defeat your prescription drug addiction. Our unique, evidence-based, comprehensive approach treats the whole person rather than just one specific issue. Through this treatment model, we can ensure treatment addresses your physical and your mental health. You can contact us anytime with any questions you may have about prescription drug addiction, substance abuse, and how to begin treatment in any of our addiction treatment programs. 

Sober living homes are frequently mentioned and integrated as part of a comprehensive aftercare plan. As essential as sober living options and opportunities are to many, they are sometimes overlooked or disregarded due to misconceptions around how truly beneficial they can be. 

What Are Sober Living Homes? 

Sober living homes (sometimes called halfway houses) provide a vital bridge between addiction treatment and a successful, sober return to one’s family and community. Once completing treatment and returning home, you may find that you struggle with adjusting back to the routines of daily life. A sober living home offers an intermediary recovery option that allows you to work with others on the lessons you learned during treatment. The truth is, spending time at a sober living home between treatment and returning home could make the difference between relapse and continued sobriety, especially if you lack essential support structures at home.

Sober living homes in Monmouth County, NJ are an excellent means of alleviating any fears or concerns you may have about going from the more heavily monitored treatment and therapy environment and jumping right back into your daily life. If you are new to recovery, a sober living environment may be your only option for a safe, sober living scenario if “home” consists of too many powerful triggers. 

Sober living homes are different from addiction treatment programs in many respects. At a sober living home, you are free to come and go as you please, much like outpatient addiction treatment programs. This allows you to slowly ease back into everyday life and resume your daily tasks and responsibilities while still having support. Although sober living homes are less restrictive than inpatient treatment, there are still rules that you are expected to follow, including curfews and attendance at group meetings. Please note that addiction treatment doesn’t happen in a sober living home. 

How Does New Jersey Sober Living Help With Relapse Prevention?

There are countless benefits to staying in a sober living home in New Jersey. Some of the most prominent include the ability to attend 12 step programs (or similar group-oriented support programs), creating essential structure, accountability, and creating a sober fellowship. A primary part of remaining sober that many tend to forget is creating positive friendships with those who share the same goals. This reinforces your ongoing desire to abstain from drugs and alcohol and support others to do the same. 

Isolation is a significant problem for many who are new to recovery. When you return directly home after addiction treatment, you may find that you lack the essential support structures to maintain your sobriety. You may find that friends or family either still use or do not understand the support you need to maintain sobriety. Consequently, many people new to recovery often isolate themselves from others, situations, or environments that could be triggering. While this may sound logical, it often leads to relapse. The support systems developed at a sober living home help you avoid isolation and provide an environment to further support your recovery.

Sober living homes help you slowly integrate back into daily life routines while instilling healthy habits better essential to relapse prevention. Programs at sober living homes can help you make amends with friends and family, find employment, locate safe housing, and adjust his sober living in an environment without the restrictions and controls found in addiction treatment programs. 

Beat Addiction With the Help of Relevance Recovery’s Sober Living in New Jersey

As part of a carefully designed aftercare plan, the assistance you receive while staying in a sober living home will help you further identify triggers that may entice you to use once you return home. It can also help solidify healthy coping skills that you learned during treatment. The benefits of sober living homes are essential to many in recovery. The time you may spend at a sober living home in New Jersey varies but can often be for as long as you feel it necessary to ensure long-lasting sobriety and recovery. If you are in treatment, talk to your counselor and treatment team about ensuring sober living is part of your aftercare plan. If you are considering seeking addiction treatment, contact Relevance Recovery, and speak to one of our caring admissions counselors today. Our unique and individual treatment programs can help you get back on the road to recovery and a substance-free life.