As
New Jersey
continues to
experience
alarming
rates of
opioid use
and
drug-related
deaths
during the
pandemic,
SERV
Behavioral
Health
System, Inc.
is
confronting
the issue
head-on by
rolling out
new services
and
eliminating
barriers to
recovery for
those
battling
substance
use
disorder.
On
Monday,
September
13, the
organization
celebrated
the opening
of a
substance
use disorder
outpatient
treatment
program at
its
Community
Behavioral
Health
Clinic in
Clifton.
A
true
“one-stop-shop,”
SERV’s
Community
Behavioral
Health
Clinic
provides
community-based,
integrated
care for
individuals
with complex
mental
health,
substance
use, and
physical
health needs
together in
one
convenient
location.
“At
SERV, we are
dedicated to
reaching
people with
substance
use disorder
and
providing
them the
services and
support they
need to
break the
cycle of
their
disease and
live
meaningful,
productive
lives,” said
SERV Centers
COO Pauline
Simms, who
was
instrumental
in bringing
this new
program to
Passaic
County.
“Throughout
the
pandemic, we
have
continued to
work on
solutions to
the mental
health and
substance
use crises
in our
state, and
this new
program is
another step
in the right
direction,”
Simms added.
“We
provide
a
truly
integrated
model
of
care
at
our
Community
Behavioral
Health
Clinic
in
Clifton,
and
we
are
incredibly
excited
for
this
opportunity
to
expand
our
services
and
open
the
door
to
recovery
for
individuals
and
families
who
have
been
affected
by
the
opioid
epidemic.”
The
announcement
of this new
program
comes at a
critical
time for New
Jersey, as
the COVID-19
pandemic has
led to a
drastic
increase in
the number
of people
struggling
with mental
health
issues and
substance
use
disorder.
According
to state
data, 1,626
New Jersey
residents
died from an
overdose
during the
first half
of this
year.
At
this rate,
the state
would
surpass its
all-time
high number
of
drug-related
deaths per
year, which
was set in
2020, by
more than
6%.
And
New Jersey
is not the
only state
experiencing
a spike in
overdose
deaths.
Drug-related
deaths in
the United
States hit a
record high
of 93,331
last year,
and the
Centers for
Disease
Control and
Prevention
(CDC)
estimates
that over
250 people
have died
from an
overdose per
day in 2021.
The CDC also
reports that
more than
13% of
Americans
claim to
have either
started or
increased
substance
use during
the
pandemic.
Experts
say the
effects of
the pandemic
have driven
the surge in
overdoses by
heightening
feelings of
stress and
anxiety,
creating
financial
insecurity, forcing
people to
sacrifice
social
connections, and
disrupting
public
health and
support
services.
According
to Patricia
Kazanowski,
the Project
Director for
SERV’s
Community
Behavioral
Health
Clinic,
expanding
access to
treatment
and
eliminating
barriers to
recovery for
those
suffering
from
substance
use disorder
is
"crucial to fighting this epidemic."
“Now,
more than
ever,
there’s a
pressing
need for
treatment
programs in
our
communities,”
Kazanowski
said.
“Our
program
offers
a
wide
range
of
services,
including
ambulatory
withdrawal
management
for
opioids,
intensive
outpatient
treatment,
and
medication
to
support
recovery.”
“Our
team of
professionals
stand ready
to provide
support and
healing to
those who
need it,"
she added. "We
understand
that the
recovery
journey is
different
for
everyone,
and we
tailor our
services to
meet the
needs of
each person
we serve.”
One
major
benefit of
outpatient
treatment is
convenience.
Outpatient
treatment
programs are
designed to
accommodate
outside
obligations
and can
serve as an
effective
and flexible
option for
those
looking to
recover from
substance
use
disorders.
“Overnight
stays at a
hospital or
residential
facility can
be a major
deterrent
for
individuals
seeking
recovery,”
said
LaTricia
Gordon, the
Director of
Nursing for
SERV’s
Community
Behavioral
Health
Clinic. “In
our program,
however,
there is
greater
flexibility
of
scheduling.”
“Individuals
can continue
to manage
their
careers and
other
responsibilities
while
undergoing
outpatient
treatment.
Additionally,
they will be
able to
apply the
skills they
learn in
treatment
immediately
in their
home setting
while still
having the
support of
the SERV
team and
recovering
peers.”
SERV’s
Community
Behavioral
Health
Clinic also
offers
on-site
pharmacy
services
through
Rapps
Pharmacy,
LLC.
“Proven
and safe
medications
like
Suboxone
have the
potential to
reduce
withdrawal
symptoms and
save lives,”
Gordon said.
“Once
prescribed,
we will
ensure
individuals
have access
to the
medication
they need as
soon as
possible,
which can be
crucial
during the
early stages
of
recovery.”
The
importance
of National
Recovery
Month: what
it is and
why we
celebrate it
In
addition to
expanding
access to
care, SERV
is
continuing
its efforts
to increase
awareness
and combat
the stigma
surrounding
mental
health and
substance
use
disorders.
SERV
recognizes
September as
National
Recovery
Month—a
celebration
of the 23
million
people who
recover from
substance
use disorder
each year.
Throughout
the month,
the
organization
is helping
to reinforce
the positive
message that
behavioral
health is
essential to
overall
health, that
treatment is
effective,
and that
people can
and do
recover.
The
2021
National
Recovery
Month theme
is “Recovery
is For
Everyone:
Every
Person,
Every
Family,
Every
Community,”
and it
serves as a
reminder to
people with
substance
use disorder
and those
who support
them that no
one is alone
in the
journey
through
recovery.
“The
importance
of National
Recovery
Month cannot
be
understated,”
said Allison
Dickens, the
Director of
SERV’s
Community
Behavioral
Health
Clinic in
Clifton. “It
shines a
light on
people who
have
struggled
with
substance
use
disorder,
recovered,
and went on
to live
fulfilling
lives.”
“There
is a
lot
of
emphasis
put
on
the
opioid
crisis
and
the
lives
it
has
claimed,
which
is
necessary,
but
it’s
also
important
to
remember
that
there
are
success
stories—to
let
people
know
that
recovery
is
possible
and
even
probable
with
the
right
treatment,”
she
added.
“Too
many
people
are
still
unaware
that
prevention
works
and
that
mental
health
and
substance
use
disorders
can
be
treated,
just
like
other
health
problems.”
Ways
to support
National
Recovery
Month
One
of the most
effective
ways to
celebrate
Recovery
Month is to
share
resources
and
information
about
substance
use disorder
and
recovery.
This month,
we encourage
you to take
some time to
learn more
about
substance
use disorder
and research
the best
ways to care
for
individuals
battling
this
disease.
Share what
you learn
with friends
and family.
Also
consider
sharing
information
about
treatment
programs,
crisis
hotlines,
and these downloadable
materials
about
preventing
overdose on
Facebook,
Instagram,
Twitter,
and/or
LinkedIn.
Another
way to show
your support
is by
attending an
event. There
are several
themed
awareness
events
taking place
in New
Jersey and
virtually
during
National
Recovery
Month. For
an updated
list of
recovery
month
events,
check out
the NJ-CARS
September
event
calendar
or the
official Faces
and
Voices
of
Recovery
calendar
for Recovery
Month
events.
If
you know
someone in
recovery or
who may be
struggling
with
substance
use
disorder,
you should
consider
reaching out
to them.
During this
stressful
time of
social
distancing
and
isolation,
many feel
disconnected,
and something
as simple as
a phone call
or video
chat can
have a major
impact on
someone in
recovery.