What to Expect & How to Begin Substance Use Treatment in New Jersey
If you’re struggling with substance use, making the decision to get help and start your recovery journey can feel daunting, overwhelming, even paralyzing. While you may be feeling a mix of emotions, remind yourself that progress is not perfect and the path to healing starts with one small step: acknowledging your need for help. Opening the door to recovery is a courageous first step in recognizing the importance of professional intervention. By admitting what you need, you can begin to take action and seek supportive treatment for your well-being and recovery.
“Taking that first step toward recovery and admitting you need help takes a lot of courage,” said Amy Villano, LPC, ACS, MBA, Senior Director of NJ Recovery Services. “By getting help and treatment, you’re opening yourself up to heal and a brighter future.”
What are the stages of substance use recovery?
Recovery is not linear, but every small step can lead to big change. Acenda utilizes the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change model which identifies six phases in the path to changing one’s behavior:
1. Pre-contemplation: Individuals are typically unaware or underestimate how their substance use is impacting their life or others.
2. Contemplation: The need for change has been acknowledged but the individual may be unsure how to take action.
3. Preparation: Once acknowledged, individuals begin to take steps towards changing their habits and behaviors—typically within the next 30 days.
4. Action: Within this phase, the individual is actively trying to change their behavior and environment by entering treatment, reducing substance use, attending therapy, and creating a strong support circle.
5. Maintenance: Individuals enter this stage once their behavior changes have been sustained for at least six months.
6. Relapse: While completion is the ultimate goal of the change model, the unofficial sixth stage of change is relapse. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience setbacks throughout their recovery journey. You might feel frustration, disappointment, or feelings of failure, but it is important to know that relapsing is part of the process, not a failure.
5 Common Myths or Fears About Starting Recovery
Here are five of the most common misconceptions people have about recovery and the truths that can help replace fear with hope:
1. Fear of judgment or discrimination: Many people fear they will be judged for seeking help, but the opposite is true! Asking for help is a sign of strength and so many people will want to help and support you on your journey to recovery.
2. Misunderstandings about substance use as a disease: It’s not a moral failing or lack of willpower, rather a complex disease that requires compassionate, evidence-based treatment just like any other medical condition.
3. A belief that substance use only affects certain people: Substance use is a disease that can impact anyone at any point in life, regardless of age, gender, background, education, or lifestyle.
4. I’ll have to go to an in-patient rehab: In-patient care is one treatment option but it is not the only one. Acenda offers outpatient recovery programs to provide effective and flexible pathways to recovery.
5. Relapse equals failure: Just like a person with heart disease or diabetes may experience setbacks that require adjustments to their care, a relapse is simply a signal that treatment needs to be adjusted. Substance use is a medical condition and recovery is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
What type of recovery treatments are available?
At Acenda, we recognize that many individuals need varying levels of support and care along their recovery journey. Acenda offers effective and flexible pathways across our residential, outpatient, intensive outpatient (IOP), and partial care programs to provide personalized care for each individual. Across all of Acenda’s recovery services, we promote improved overall well-being, holistic care, and community health through our team of licensed mental health clinicians. The best way to determine what kind of treatment program is best for you is to talk to a recovery specialist.
Guidance for Overcoming Relapse
Relapsing can feel discouraging, but it does not mean failure. It is often part of the recovery journey and is an opportunity to adjust your recovery plan, identify triggers and patterns, or consider additional treatment options. But, you don’t have to face setbacks alone. Reach out to family, friends, peer support, or recovery coaches for encouragement and accountability. Remember: healing takes time and every step in the process matters.
Finding Substance Use Recovery Treatment in New Jersey
Recovery truly is a journey, and while it doesn’t happen overnight, lasting change is possible with the right support team. At Acenda Integrated Health, we provide evidence-based substance use treatment throughout New Jersey, offering compassionate and personalized care for each individual’s needs. Acenda’s services include outpatient and intensive outpatient programs, counseling, and recovery support designed to help individuals and families heal.
If you or a loved one is seeking substance use recovery in New Jersey, Acenda’s experienced clinicians and caring treatment managers are here to help. Call 844-422-3632 to learn more about treatment options and recovery programs available in your community.
Visit our Outpatient Recovery Services page to learn more about how Acenda can help.
About the Authors
Amy Villano, LPC, ACS, MBA, is the Senior Director of NJ Recovery Services at Acenda Integrated Health. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked across all levels of care in substance use and mental health treatment, including residential and outpatient programs for adolescents, adults, mothers, and families.
Cassandra Boyce is a volunteer contributor, freelance creative consultant, and former Acenda team member now based in Denver, Colorado. She is the creative mind behind BoscoMKT, where she helps organizations tell their stories through unique content and design. When she’s not behind her MacBook, she enjoys hiking in the Rocky Mountains, traveling abroad, and attending concerts.