Rutgers expands NJ addiction treatment
Dedicates detox center in Plainfield
By: Gene Myers
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... New Jersey is expanding its support for residents afected by the opioid epidemic and other substance use disorders, through two new intiatives announed by Rutgers University.
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In partnership with the state Labor Department, Rutgers launched a Pathways to Recovery website to help job seekers in recovery connect with "stigma-free" employers. the school also dedicates a new Center for Recovery and Wellbeing in Plainfield, which will provide inpatient withdrawal management services for patients aorta the state.
..... Both efforts aim to brake down barriers for those in recovery in the Garden State. Almost 1340,000 adults sought substance abuse treatment in 2022, according to Rutgers.
..... "With the Rutgers Center for Recovery and Wellbeing, we will have a great opportunity to support individuals and loved ones on their path to an improved quality of life and long-term recovery," said Caitlin Simpson, senior director of addiction services at Rutgers University Behavioral Helaht Care.
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The jobs website - pathways2recovery.nj.gov - was designed to help New Jersey residents impacted by the opioid crisis in finding opportunities with supportive employers. employers can also attain certification as "Recovery-Friendly workplace" trained to support staff and spot signs of relapse.
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"Employment is fundamental for people to maintain their recovery. However, often there is fear or stigma related to employing people who are in recovery" Nina Cooperman, an associate professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, said in a joint statement with the Labor Department.
..... Cooperman leads the project for Rutgers Health.
..... The Pathways to Recovery program was launched in 2019 by Governor Phil Murphy's administration. It has connected over 4,350 participants with more than 1,600 employers in that time, according to the statement.
.... "As New Jersey continues to address the opioid epidemic, it's crucial that we create pathways to sustainable employment for those in recovery," said state Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo "This website is a critical tool for fostering understanding and exclusivity in the workplace."
NJ center expands addition services
..... While employment is a crucial part of recovery, many struggle to begin that journey due to a lack of available treatment options.
..... In New Jersey, more than 3,000 people die annually form unintentional overdoes, an average of eight deaths per day. For those seeking recovery, inpatient detox is often the first step, but wait times for beds can be dangerously long, the university said in announcing the Recovery Center.
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"When someone calls seeking treatment and is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, they often will require the support and interventions form our medical team, and quick access to treatment can be a world of difference for the overall success of the individual," said Simpson. The center, set to open in Plainfield later this year, [2025] looks to fill a gap in impatient coverage statewide. The facility, located in the former Muhlenberg Hospital, will provide 44 beds including 20 designated for medically monitored withdrawal management. It will also offer short-term inpatient care, intensive outpatient program and case management.
..... Operated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care in partnership with RWJBarnabs Health, the center will coordinate ongoing care for clients across New Jersey. It plans to schedule individual within 72 hours of contact, ensuring that those in need receive timely intervention.
..... "T Here is a significant need for new providers to increase access to services, particularly within the inpatient and withdrawal management sector," Simpson said. "The Rutgers Center for Recovery and Wellbeing strives to fill the existing gap in services and the needs of the community."