Substance use disorders (SUDs), including opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid dependence, are not uncommon in the U.S. A recent study published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), along with support from agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), highlights the prevalence of addiction. The 2022 study revealed that nearly 49 million people aged 12 and older have a substance use disorder of some kind. One of the states particularly impacted by this public health crisis is New Jersey.

Often referred to as the Garden State, New Jersey is experiencing high rates of opioid addiction and opioid overdose, contributing significantly to its substance abuse challenges. Available data shows that an estimated 6.1% of New Jerseyans have a problem with drugs, alcohol, or both. At 6.1%, roughly 565,000 people in the state are affected, highlighting the urgent need for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and comprehensive whole-patient support to treat addiction.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Commonly Abused Substances in New Jersey

People in New Jersey struggle with various addictive substances, including cocaine, marijuana, heroin, fentanyl, alcohol, and methamphetamine. Opioids such as heroin and fentanyl are particularly concerning due to their addictive nature and effects on opioid receptors in the brain. When opioids like fentanyl or OxyContin (an agonist) are taken, they block pain signals that would ordinarily travel from the brain to the body. This action is the basis for why healthcare providers sometimes prescribe these medications to those with chronic pain, though misuse can lead to dependency and addiction.

Abusing opioids or similar substances triggers a surge of dopamine in the brain’s reward regions, contributing to opioid dependence. Similarly, methamphetamine and other stimulants release high amounts of dopamine, making them equally addictive. Emergency departments frequently see cases of opioid overdoses and stimulant abuse, reinforcing the importance of addiction medicine and MAT services for individuals in crisis.

As a depressant, alcohol can also be damaging when consumed in excess. Excessive alcohol use affects regions of the brain related to pleasure, judgment, and behavior, as shown in data published by the Mayo Clinic and supported by Medicaid and Medicare health information. Primary care providers often see patients struggling with alcohol and opiate addiction, underscoring the need for substance abuse treatment and MAT, which includes medications such as Suboxone and Vivitrol that help mitigate withdrawal symptoms.

Substance Use Disorders and Withdrawal Symptoms: The Truth About What Happens When Someone Suddenly Stops Using

Whether it’s alcohol, opioids, methamphetamines, or any other substance, most people experience withdrawal symptoms if they go too long without them. And this brings us to how substance abuse affects the body. While the type, length, and severity can vary depending on an individual’s drug of choice, most people experience chills, confusion, changes in appetite, anxiety, and depression when they abruptly stop using. The following symptoms are also common:

  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Drug Cravings
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Extreme bouts of fatigue
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • General aches and pain
  • Hallucinations
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Muscle spasms
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Profuse sweating
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Restlessness
  • Seizures and tremors

Studies Show Many New Jerseyans Are Ready To End Their Relationship With Drugs and Alcohol

While the substance use disorder problem that plagues New Jersey is concerning, there is some good news. Many people with a drug or alcohol problem are getting the help they need to get their lives back on track. And that help is coming by way of addiction recovery programs at licensed rehab facilities. According to the New Jersey Department of Human Services, rehab facilities in the state reported some 87,745 treatment admissions and around 86,626 discharges in 2021. That data immediately reveals two things about the substance abuse problem in the Garden State. Firstly, many people are turning to addiction recovery programs in licensed rehab facilities for help; second, most are completing those programs and regaining control over their lives. That said, the road to sobriety is far from easy, which explains why not everyone who tries to quit drugs or alcohol succeeds.

How Medication-Assisted Treatment Can Help With Difficult Withdrawal Symptoms

The withdrawal symptoms that follow the abrupt cessation of drugs or alcohol can be difficult for some people, and sometimes, they can lead to them giving up their pursuit of sobriety and start using again. Studies show that 40% to 60% of people trying to overcome a substance use disorder relapse while in recovery. An inability to cope with withdrawal symptoms caused by abruptly quitting drugs, alcohol, or both is to blame for most of these relapses, according to many of the same studies. Rehab facilities in New Jersey and across the nation recognize that getting past withdrawal symptoms is the most challenging aspect of conquering one’s addiction. That recognition has led to many of them offering medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to individuals in their care.

What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

Medication-assisted treatment is a holistic approach to addiction recovery. As the name might suggest, it entails using prescription medication to ease or put to an end challenging withdrawal symptoms that can sometimes result in individuals relapsing. Some of the medications rehab facilities provide to individuals as part of medication-assisted treatment include the following:

  • Acamprosate
  • Antiemetics
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Buprenorphine
  • Disulfiram
  • Methadone
  • Naltrexone
  • Prescription-based electrolytes

Along with prescription-based drugs, medication-assisted treatment encompasses round-the-clock monitoring by healthcare professionals and counseling and behavioral therapies with a licensed therapist. These counseling and behavioral therapies can include one or more of the following:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy – Also known as CBT, cognitive-behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people identify and change harmful behaviors and thoughts related to themselves and their struggles with addiction.
  • Contingency management – This is a form of psychotherapy that aims to help people remain motivated by providing them with tangible rewards, such as vouchers for goods or services, for making positive changes on their journey toward addiction recovery.
  • Motivational enhancement – This is a short-term treatment approach to psychotherapy that involves a therapist helping an individual resolve ambivalence about substance abuse and getting clean.

Studies Show MAT Offers Short and Long-Term Benefits for Individuals Trying To Overcome Addiction

Because MAT is a holistic approach to addiction recovery, it significantly increases an individual’s chance of achieving not only short-term but also long-term sobriety. Multiple studies show that MAT increases patient survival rates and treatment retention rates. It also does a remarkable job of decreasing criminal activity related to substance abuse and increases an individual’s chances of gaining and maintaining employment. All of this makes sense in light of the numerous physical and mental health benefits associated with MAT. Most people who have gone through a MAT program report the following physical health benefits:

  • Better digestion
  • Decreased pain
  • Healthier skin, hair, and nails
  • Increased energy
  • Reduced feelings of stress
  • Stronger immune system

As for mental health benefits, most people who have gone through a MAT program report experiencing increased mental clarity, improved cognitive functioning, reduced feelings of anxiety and depression, and enhanced concentration and alertness. Because MAT, along with various forms of psychotherapy, prescription medications, and round-the-clock monitoring, encompasses psycho-educational assessments, skills development, and support groups, it prepares individuals for life after rehab. Following the successful completion of MAT and other addiction recovery programs in rehab, many people find it easier to rejoin the workforce if they were previously unemployed due to their struggles with drugs or alcohol. Many also rebuild relationships with family and friends that they destroyed while they were using. Additionally, most have fewer legal and financial problems when they return to the “real world.”

Common Misconceptions Associated With Medication-Assisted Treatments

Some of the most common misconceptions associated with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) have to do with the use of medications and drug use involved. Many believe that MAT is tantamount to substituting one drug for another. That couldn’t be further from the truth; medications prescribed as part of a MAT regimen are evidence-based and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to eliminate withdrawal symptoms, relieve drug cravings, and restore brain chemistry disrupted by substance abuse or drug addiction.

FDA-approved medications that are part of a MAT regimen, such as Vivitrol and Suboxone, are used under the discretion of a licensed physician to support recovery and sobriety. These medications do not provide a euphoric high or contribute to compulsive misuse or addiction. Some medications, like buprenorphine and naloxone (components in Suboxone), which physicians commonly prescribe to people trying to quit opioids, are formulated to deter misuse. They work by blocking some of the rewarding effects of the drug while providing relief from withdrawal symptoms. Other medications, like disulfiram, offer similar benefits for those overcoming an alcohol use disorder (AUD). These treatment options in MAT are carefully managed to make it a safe and effective part of substance abuse treatment and addiction medicine.

In summary, Medication-Assisted Treatment is a holistic approach in the treatment of substance use disorders that supports individuals during rehab and long after. To learn more about MAT or for help finding addiction treatment or behavioral health treatment services in your area, consider speaking with one of our knowledgeable and compassionate NJ Addiction Resources associates today.