How to Find a Suboxone Clinic in Pennsauken, NJ

photo of doctor and patient talking

People with opioid use disorder (OUD) seeking treatment for addiction at a Suboxone clinic in Pennsauken, NJ can be confident that evidence-based treatment is readily available. That’s important information, because the Opioid Crisis in United States – which is now in its third decade – has impacted people all over the country, including the citizens of Pennsauken.

What is a Suboxone Clinic?

A suboxone clinic is a treatment center that has met all the federal requirements to treat people with a medication called buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means it partially prevents opioids from acting on the brain. In a suboxone clinic, buprenorphine is often administered in a formulation that includes an additional medication called naltrexone. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it completely block all opioids from acting on the brain. When naltrexone and buprenorphine are combined, the medication is called Suboxone. The naltrexone component of Suboxone is an abuse deterrent, because it prevents any euphoric effect from any opioid, and also prevents misuse of Suboxone.

Medication-assisted treatment is part of an approach to opioid addiction/heroin treatment endorsed and funded by the State Government of New Jersey with the passage of an important legislative package in 2022.

Here’s how New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy describes harm reduction:

“Over the last four years, my Administration has prioritized a comprehensive, data-driven approach to ending New Jersey’s opioid epidemic. Harm reduction is a cornerstone of our strategy. We are paving the way for critical services to help people with substance use disorders stay healthy, stay alive, and thrive.”

For people in treatment at a Suboxone clinic for heroin addiction/opioid addiction, medications such as Suboxone can:

  • Block the effect of opioids on the brain and body
  • Normalize brain chemistry
  • Stop the euphoric and pleasurable effects of opioids
  • Decrease frequency and intensity of opioid cravings
  • Reduce the symptoms of withdrawal from opioids

In addition, addiction treatment with Suboxone is associated with:

  • Increased time-in-treatment
  • Decreased opioid use
  • Decreased criminal behavior/involvement with justice system
  • Increased ability to find and maintain employment
  • Increased ability to participate in family or school life
  • Decreased overdose risk
  • Decreased overall opioid-related mortality (death)

Addiction treatment is available – but how do you know if you or a loved one needs it?

Opioid Addiction, Heroin Addiction, Prescription Opioid Addiction: Warning Signs

Families seeking a Suboxone clinic in Pennsauken, NJ should understand that the sooner a person who needs heroin treatment or opioid treatment gets the treatment they need, the better the outcome. If you think you or someone you love has opioid use disorder (OUD), you can look for two types of warning signs: physical signs and behavioral signs.

Physical Signs of Opioid Addiction:

  • Unexplained accidents or injuries
  • Shaking hands or other physical tremors
  • Neglect of appearance and hygiene
  • Sudden weight loss or gain
  • Slurred or agitated speech
  • Clammy palms
  • Red, watery eyes
  • Tiny pupils
  • Poor physical coordination
  • Unusual odors on breath, body, or clothes
  • Needle marks on arms, legs, or feet
  • Shaking hands or other physical tremors

Behavioral Signs of Opioid Addiction:

  • Emotional instability
  • Significant personality changes
  • Decline in work or academic performance
  • Increased anger, resentment, and sensitivity
  • Decreased ability to focus
  • Failure to keep commitments
  • Apathy
  • Stealing
  • Lying
  • Loss of interest in lifelong hobbies or passions
  • Secretive activity/hiding things

If you see these warning signs in yourself or a loved one, we recommend seeking a professional assessment with an addiction treatment professional.  After a comprehensive assessment, an experienced treatment professional can make a referral or recommendation for treatment at a suboxone clinic in Pennsauken, NJ.

Treatment for Addiction at Pinnacle Treatment Centers

Medication-assisted treatment at a Suboxone clinic is about more than the medication. In fact, the best Suboxone clinics follow the integrated treatment model, which is a holistic, all-of-the-above approach to addiction treatment. After a full biological, psychological, and social assessment, the treatment experts at Delaware Valley Medical create plan that includes a custom-tailored combination of cutting-edge therapeutic techniques, including:

Components of Integrated Treatment in Pennsauken, NJ

  • Psychotherapy/Counseling: Individual, group, and family.
  • Medication (if needed): Suboxone, methadone, naltrexone
  • Lifestyle changes: Diet, Exercise, Stress management, Sleep hygiene
  • Education: Classes/ workshops on the science of addiction and recovery
  • Complementary supports: Yoga, Meditation, Mindfulness
  • Community/Peer support: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), SMART Recovery
  • Aftercare/Case Management/Ongoing Support: Relapse prevention, connections to medical services, connections to social services

Families or individuals seeking addiction treatment should ensure that the facility offers more than just medication, but should also understand that the inability to access the additional services should not prevent them from engaging in treatment. A foundational principle of harm reduction is to meet people where they are and offer treatment in a manner they can accept.

Treatment Locators for Pennsauken, NJ

We encourage people in need of a Suboxone Clinic in Pennsauken, NJ to contact us at Delaware Valley Medical. However, doing your due diligence is important. If   treatment at a Pinnacle Facility doesn’t meet immediate needs, please use the following resources:

The Opioid Crisis: Facts and Figures for the U.S. and Camden County, NJ

Since 1999, over a million people have died of drug overdose in the U.S., and about ¾ of those fatalities involved opioids. Here’s a quick look at overdose deaths between 2001 and 2022 nationwide. These figures are available on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

Overdose Fatalities, 2001-2022: United States

  • 2001: 19,394
  • 2006: 34,415
  • 2011: 41,340
  • 2016: 63,632
  • 2021: 106,699
  • 2022: 108,388

That’s a staggering 458% increase over the past 21 years. Now let’s look at the specific data for Camden County for the past six years, where we operate Delaware Valley Medical, a suboxone clinic in Pennsauken, NJ. These figures are available to the public at both the New Jersey Opioid Dashboard and the NJ Cares Opioid-Related Data resource page.

Overdose Fatalities, Opioids, Camden County 2018-2023

  • 2018: 327
  • 2019: 340
  • 2020: 288
  • 2021: 335
  • 2022: 354
  • 2023: 326

These overdose numbers demonstrate a clear need for suboxone clinic services in Pennsauken, NJ, which includes heroin treatment and opioid addiction treatment. Individuals or families seeking addiction treatment should understand that suboxone treatment is one part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with medications of opioid use disorder (MOUD), and that MAT with MOUD is considered the gold-standard treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), including heroin addiction and prescription opioid addiction.

Remember: the sooner a person who needs treatment gets the treatment they need, the better the outcome.

The materials provided on the Pinnacle Blog are for information and educational purposes only. No behavioral health or any other professional services are provided through the Blog and the information obtained through the Blog is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified health professional. If you are in need of medical or behavioral health treatment, please contact a qualified health professional directly, and if you are in need of emergency help, please go to your nearest emergency room or dial 911.