Department of Human Services
Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Commissioner
Department of Human Services (DHS)
Assistant Commissioner
Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS)
Withdrawal Management
Many people believe that they need to get detoxification, or “detox” to begin treatment. This idea is not always true; for many people managing the disease of addiction, their withdrawal symptoms can be managed quite well in outpatient care where you can also receive Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). A qualified physician should evaluate whether a person can manage withdrawal in an outpatient setting.
If you know that you are at risk of overdosing, or if you have a child or friend whom you worry about, always keep the phone number of Reach NJ with you. The number is shown at the top of this screen. The professionals who answer the phone can tell you what you can do to handle an emergency.
Naloxone is an especially important medication used to “reverse” an opioid overdose and save someone’s life. All people in New Jersey who want to have naloxone to prevent crisis can buy NARCAN© kits over-the-counter from their pharmacy or attend a specialized training available from New Jersey’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. More information is available at https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhas/initiatives/naloxone.html
Withdrawal management is a set of interventions aimed at managing acute intoxification. Supervised detoxification may prevent potentially life-threatening complications that often appear if the patient had been left untreated. The medications needed for an episode of detoxification depend on the substances that were used. With this information, your physician will determine the type of care you need. This type of treatment involves:
- Evaluation includes testing substances of use in your bloodstream, measuring their concentration, and screening for co-occurring mental and physical conditions. Evaluation also includes a comprehensive assessment of your medical and psychological conditions.
- Stabilization includes assisting you through acute intoxication and withdrawal to the point where you are medically stable and your blood is substance-free.
- Referral to substance use treatment by helping you to find the right treatment and to understand the importance of following through with complete substance use treatment.
To learn more about withdrawal management, visit the federal Substance use and Mental Health Services Administration at https://www.samhsa.gov
Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) are structured and licensed outpatient programs that dispense and/or administer methadone in conjunction with appropriate counseling and other treatment services to patients with an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). An OTP may also dispense and/or prescribe other treatment medication approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of OUD, such as buprenorphine or naltrexone. click here.
Expanded Hours Opioid Treatment Providers (OTPs)
Currently, six (6) Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) in NJ provide expanded access to services. OTPs are structured and licensed outpatient programs that dispense and/or administer methadone in conjunction with appropriate counseling and other treatment services to patients with an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). An OTP may also dispense and/or prescribe other treatment medication approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of OUD, such as buprenorphine or naltrexone.
Expanded Hours OTPs provide additional access to care by increasing hours of operation, providing telehealth services, and removing administrative barriers to treatment for those with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Expanded Hour OTPs are available in Atlantic, Gloucester, Hudson, and Mercer, Ocean and Union counties. Providers have naloxone available at all times. click here.
Free Resource - Opioid Addiction Treatment pocket guide
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), which is dedicated to improving the quality of addiction treatment and educating providers and the public publishes the pocket guide Opioid Addiction Treatment - A Guide for Patients, Families and Friends. It provides information and facts concerning treatment for those seeking help and explains the needed steps to recovery. Please send an email request at MHAS.ASAMBooklet@dhs.nj.gov to place an order. The booklets are boxed in bundles of 100 each and can be offered to patients, staff, placed in waiting/exam rooms, used in training events or given out with Naloxone. Below is a link for the booklet if you would like to review it:
English http://eguideline.guidelinecentral.com/i/1302283-asam-opioid-patient-piece-2020-for-new-jersey
Foreign Languages https://eguideline.guidelinecentral.com/asam-patient-guide-nj