Our Guide to Finding the Best Outpatient Program in New Jersey

Are you looking for the best outpatient program in New Jersey? Searching for an outpatient treatment program can feel like a daunting task — especially if you are unfamiliar with the treatment industry or what to look for. While there are many reputable outpatient treatment programs in New Jersey, choosing the right one for you or your loved one is important. We created this guide to help you ask the right questions when researching outpatient treatment programs. We hope this guide will help you determine the best possible path to recovery. In addition to our guide, we have included some general information about addiction issues facing New Jersey and the recovery community in New Jersey. If at any point in your search you have questions or just need an empathetic ear, feel free to contact us night or day. We have individuals available to speak with you 24/7.

Addiction Issues in New Jersey

Over the course of the past several years, the entire country has been rocked by the opioid epidemic. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), nearly 50,000 men and women throughout the U.S. lost their lives to an opioid-related overdose death in the year 2019 alone. Health officials are predicting even larger numbers in 2020, fueled by the Coronavirus pandemic. The number of overdose deaths have greatly increased from 2017, when there were a recorded 47,000 opioid-related deaths. That year there were also an estimated 1.7 million cases of prescription painkiller addiction and 652,000 cases of heroin addiction.

While no state has gone untouched by the opioid epidemic, New Jersey has been hit particularly hard. NIDA reported that in 2018 there were 2,900 drug overdose deaths reported in the state of New Jersey, and roughly 90 percent of all fatalities (2,583) were directly linked to opioid narcotics. Rates of prescription painkiller addiction are also high in New Jersey, which partially fuels the high rates of heroin abuse throughout the state. In the year 2018, New Jersey providers wrote 38.9 painkiller prescriptions for every 100 residents. While this number is slightly lower than the national average of 51.4 prescriptions per 100 residents, it is still significant.

The State of New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services reported that in 2019 there were a total of 98,628 treatment admissions in the state, and 96,482 discharges reported. Fourty-two percent of all treatment center admissions were attributed to heroin, while 31 percent were attributed to alcohol and 11 percent to marijuana. The majority of treatment center admissions in New Jersey — 25 percent — are to outpatient treatment programs like that offered by Guardian IOP.

If you or your loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, you are clearly not alone. We are available to help. Contact us any time!

When looking for the best outpatient program in New Jersey, consider the following:

• What are the clinical and medical standards of the outpatient treatment program?
• Does the outpatient program offer dual diagnosis treatment options?
• What is the facility like? Is it comfortable and homestyle?
• What is the professionalism of staff?
• Are the therapeutic staff members licensed and highly experienced?
• What is the client-to-staff ratio?
• Does the outpatient program offer intensive therapy work?
• Does the outpatient program require 12-step program involvement?
• Does the outpatient program have options for family involvement?
• Does the outpatient program individualize their treatment plans?
• Does the outpatient program have options for an ongoing continuum of care?
• Does the outpatient program help clients arrange the next steps in their personal programs of addiction recovery?
• Does the outpatient program offer gender-specific or demographic-specific groups?
• What are the professional accreditations and licenses of the treatment center?
• Does the outpatient program have a clear set of ethical standards in place?
• Does the outpatient program have a variety of insurance and/or private-pay options?

Guardian IOP certainly stacks up when it comes to meeting the above-listed standards. We are fully licensed and accredited through the state of New Jersey, and our integrated, demographic-specific program combines the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with intensive behavioral therapy, holistic treatment methods and dual diagnosis options. We believe that the loved ones of our clients should be involved in every stage of the recovery process, which is why our program focuses on providing family-oriented services. All of these factors combined has quickly given Guardian IOP a widespread reputation is the best outpatient program in New Jersey.

Is Intensive Outpatient Treatment Right For Me?

Before you begin searching for the best outpatient program in New Jersey, you will likely want to consider whether or not OP is the most appropriate level of clinical care for you or your loved one. When it comes to addiction treatment, there are several levels of care available, including:

• Medically monitored detox
• Inpatient addiction treatment
• Partial hospitalization (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient treatment (IOP)

In most cases it is recommended that an individual begin with medical detox and then complete between one and three full months in an inpatient or residential rehab. Once inpatient treatment is complete, the individual often transitions into a sober living house and continues along with an outpatient program depending on his or her personal needs. However, in some cases, outpatient can be effective as a stand-alone treatment option.

IOP is a good option for you or your loved one as a standalone treatment if:

• The substance abuse disorder is mild, and if it has not yet resulted in a range of serious personal consequences.
• If the person in question is not suffering from any dual diagnosis disorders like depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
• The person has a pre-existing obligation that he or she cannot step away from for months at a time (like caring for a dependent or working a high-powered career).

Outpatient treatment is the most flexible level of clinical care, and provides more personal freedom than inpatient rehab, PHP or IOP. If you would like to learn more about our comprehensive OP program or if you would like to learn more about the best treatment options in New Jersey, contact us today.

Guardian IOP’s Addiction Services

Guardian’s IOP program in New Jersey is both comprehensive and highly individualized. We offer the same level of clinical care that one might find in an inpatient rehab, but with a higher level of flexibility in place. We offer the following addiction services as part of our program:

Clients have access to a wide range of services, including:

• Individual and group therapy
• Family therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
• Holistic Therapy
• Yoga therapy
• 12-step program education and immersion
• Dual diagnosis treatment options
• Life skills training
• Relapse prevention training
• Nutritional counseling
• Educational training and assistance
• Personalized aftercare planning
• Fitness programs

If you or someone you love has been struggling with a substance abuse disorder in New Jersey or any surrounding area, Guardian IOP is available to help. In addition to our two New Jersey IOP centers, we have one IOP center located in Delray Beach. This location could be a good option for someone who needs to leave behind negative influences.  To learn more or to get started, contact us today.

New Jersey: a State Rich in Recovery Resources

New Jersey is a state rich in recovery resources. Although rates of substance abuse are high, the bounty of resources makes this state an great place to get (and stay) sober.

Additional New Jersey recovery resources include:

• The State of New Jersey Department of Human Services has an entire department dedicated solely to substance abuse and mental health. The directory can be found on their website here, and includes hotlines, helplines and treatment directories.
• The Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey also has a list of resources that can be easily found on their website. The resource list includes information for individuals and families.
• Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs are an important part of effective aftercare. There are 12-step meetings statewide, and meetings lists can be found through the Northern New Jersey Meeting Finder  and the South Jersey Intergroup Association.