When an individual receives a prescription for medication from their doctor and takes the medication as prescribed, they are “using” that medication. If they purchase medicine over the counter and take it according to the directions on the container, then they are likewise “using” it. A patient abuses a substance by committing one or more of these three following errors:
Substance abuse affects millions of people in the United States every year, and causes thousands of deaths via overdose, abuse-related medical conditions, and accidents (e.g. car crashes). Many substances, both legal and illegal, are addictive, and breaking free from addiction is easier said than done. But when a person has the right help, he or she can get free from the prison of addiction more easily.
Overcoming substance addiction is often difficult and a major accomplishment. Even after an addict successfully traverses the minefield of physical withdrawal, he or she often faces an uphill battle in overcoming emotional dependence. Many things can trigger relapse in a recovering addict, including stress, a familiar environment, or certain friendships. The addict must learn to set healthy boundaries and enforce them, while developing coping mechanisms for unexpected triggers.
Almost nobody has the ability to do these things intuitively. Developing these skills takes time, and they must be taught by a savvy professional who knows exactly what the patient is understanding well, and where they need additional support. By seeking out the appropriate level of care, the patient puts himself or herself in the best possible position to succeed, if they are willing to put in the work.
At Essential Care NJ, our professionals utilize an approach that emphasizes harm reduction for each person looking for treatment. That means our first priority is always the physical safety of the patient. After this, we focus on emotional safety: We work to provide what the patient needs in a safe and judgement-free environment. When it comes to treatment, each of our therapists has their own methodology for helping patients cope with substance abuse.
We offer the following critical substance abuse services to help our patients. If you have a need for a service that is not listed here, or if you are seeking a specific method or style of therapy, please reach out to your local Essential Care office. We can help you locate a clinic or professional that offers what you are looking for.
The most basic level of care for those recovering from substance abuse are the many clinics and mental health professionals who see patients on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Therapists provide various forms of therapy (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy), and clinics often offer regular group therapy meetings. Group meetings are valuable, because they empower the patient with information and skills, while providing a stable family of peers who battle the same issue and have the same goal. In many cases, simply knowing that there is someone else struggling with the same problem can make a world of difference.
In many cases, an adolescent battling substance abuse can function at a high level most of the time, and prefers to participate in normal school activities as much as possible. This often helps the patient to socialize properly, and not fall behind in school. However, when it comes to those moments of temptation, the adolescent may need a more intensive level of care than traditional outpatient services can provide. Intensive outpatient services often include intensive group therapy, where students learn peer acceptance, and can develop and hone the skills they need to stay sober.
Partial Care Services includes services that are part in-patient and part out-patient, and this can mean a variety of different things depending on the program. Some programs offer a daily in-patient meeting, with the option of allowing the patient to go home at the end of the day. In-patient services are important, because they provide hospital level care for those who have acute physical needs. Meetings can occur in a group setting or individually, and focus on empowering the patient with the tools he or she needs to return to everyday life.
As with adolescents, adults are often not in a position to simply check out of life in order to get their addiction under control. Many are parents, are single, or are the primary providers for their household. For these reasons and others, intensive outpatient services are available for adult patients for whom traditional outpatient services are not sufficient. Intensive group therapy, or traditional therapy, are key components of this strategy, and are keyed toward empowering patients to socialize without drugs or alcohol, develop structure and discipline, and improve their communication. With enough support at home, this option can help people who are recovering from mild or moderate addictions.
While substance abuse is not an easy problem to solve, it is common in our world. That means that mental health professionals are familiar with it, and work together nationwide to share best practices and strengthen each other. When it comes to the professionals at Essential Care NJ, we know what you need. Our core values are fairness, integrity, and honesty, and our purpose is to provide accessible, holistic, patient-centered care that enables our patients to lead stress-free, healthy lives. Our number one priority is always your well-being, and we remain determined to help you achieve the peace of mind you are looking for.
If you or a loved one is battling addiction, time is precious. Seek help, even if it means coming to just one session. Our therapists will give you a clear map to recovery, and hold your hand as you start on that treacherous path. To contact us, use the search tool on this website to find the Essential Care NJ office nearest you, and call us to set up an appointment. Once you are on the road, you will begin to have hope again.
In case of a medical or mental health emergancy, call 911 or go to your local ER.
The following resources provide free and confidential 24/7 support
Cuicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741
Trevor Lifeline Call 1-866-488-7386