Lodi Addiction Treatment Centers

Drug addiction is a widespread problem in the United States, a fact that holds true for Lodi, New Jersey. Luckily, there are rehab centers in the area that offer help to those addicted to a variety of substances.

In fact, there were 125 Lodi residents who were admitted into substance abuse treatment programs in 2016.¹ Meanwhile, Bergen County, where Lodi is located, saw 3,596 residents admitted into treatment programs for a variety of substance abuse problems.¹ Of those admitted, 37% named alcohol as their primary drug of choice, while 34% were addicted to heroin and 7% to other opiates.¹ An increasingly important component of early opioid addiction treatment is medical detox.

So what is medical detox? It is the process in which the drug user is given medication to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings that make discontinuing drug use much more difficult or uncomfortable. By providing a controlled and safe amount of medication, this therapy helps manage withdrawal as comfortably as possible while minimizing the risk of any adverse effects.

Beyond the detox period, medication-assisted treatment—or MAT—is a combination of pharmaceutical and behavioral therapeutic interventions that help many people in their longer-term opioid recovery efforts. Potential medications used in MAT include methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. When properly administered, methadone and buprenorphine activate opioid receptors without giving the patient the “high” feeling normally associated with drug use; this reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings to make sobriety an easier goal. Meanwhile, naltrexone prevents patients from relapsing by blocking feelings of euphoria and sedation if a patient uses the opioid they were previously addicted to.

There are also medications that can be given to those addicted to alcohol. When taken daily, disulfiram will create unpleasant effects should alcohol be consumed, which helps patients refrain from alcohol consumption. Acamprosate is thought to balance certain neurotransmitter activity in the wake of alcohol cessation and thereby minimizes the impact of protracted withdrawal symptoms. Though it is an opioid antagonist medication, naltrexone also works to block the euphoric feelings related to alcohol use, which takes away the benefits of alcohol consumption.²

MAT therapies are an effective step on the path toward discontinuing substance use, but to achieve long-term sobriety, MAT should be paired with counseling and behavioral therapy. Search our directory for Lodi rehab programs to see a list of treatment options in the area today.

Sources

1. Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. (2017). New Jersey Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Substance Abuse Overview 2016 Bergen County.
2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Medication and Counseling Treatment.