Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment in Ocean County
Ocean County by the numbersOpiates other than heroin — including prescription painkillers — were the primary drug in 7% of Ocean County treatment admissions in 2022, or 437 admissions.
How common is prescription drug addiction in Ocean County?
NJ DMHAS recorded 437 Ocean County admissions in 2022 where the primary drug was an opiate other than heroin — a category that includes prescription painkillers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Prescription sedatives like benzodiazepines are counted separately and are often a secondary drug rather than the primary one.
Many people in this group never set out to misuse anything. A prescription after surgery or an injury, a tough stretch of anxiety, a refill that became a habit. Dependence on a medication is a medical issue, not a moral one, and treatment can start with a single phone call.
Are pills bought outside a pharmacy safe?
Pills bought from a friend, online or on the street may not be what they appear to be. NJDOH reports that the majority of New Jersey overdose deaths involve fentanyl or its analogs, and the illicit supply is increasingly complicated by xylazine and medetomidine.
If you have moved from prescribed pills to pills from other sources, tell the placement advisor. Programs are matched to what may actually be in your system. Many people who start with pills eventually turn to heroin — see heroin addiction treatment.
Why is benzodiazepine withdrawal a special concern?
Withdrawal from benzodiazepines (such as alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam or diazepam) can be dangerous and should be medically supervised. Stopping suddenly after regular use can cause severe anxiety, insomnia, tremors and, in serious cases, seizures.
Never stop a benzodiazepine abruptly on your own. Benzodiazepine withdrawal is usually managed gradually under medical supervision, and the plan is set by your treating clinician. The risk is higher if alcohol or opioids are also involved.
What does prescription opioid withdrawal feel like?
Withdrawal from prescription opioids resembles a bad flu: aches, sweating, chills, nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, trouble sleeping and cravings. It is rarely life-threatening on its own, but it is hard enough that many people go back to using just to feel normal.
Medically supervised detox makes that first stretch safer and more manageable. Licensed programs in our referral network typically discuss FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder during detox and residential care.
What should a prescription drug rehab program offer?
For prescription drug cases, placement advisors look for programs with:
- Medical detox experienced in both opioid and benzodiazepine withdrawal
- Physicians who can coordinate with your prescribing doctor and address the original pain or anxiety condition
- Access to medications for opioid use disorder where appropriate
- Psychiatric care for anxiety, depression, insomnia or trauma — see dual diagnosis
- Non-addictive pain-management strategies and a discharge plan
Learn more about residential care on the inpatient rehab page.
Does insurance cover prescription drug rehab in NJ?
New Jersey's Chapter 28 law (P.L.2017, c.28) is the most useful thing to know here. For the first 180 days per plan year, carriers may not require prior authorization or utilization management for substance use disorder treatment at in-network facilities — including detox and inpatient care for prescription drug dependence. During that window, medical necessity is determined by the covered person's own physician, psychologist or psychiatrist, not the insurance company. The law applies to fully insured New Jersey plans, the State Health Benefits Plan and the School Employees' Health Benefits Plan. Some plan types, including self-funded employer plans, are excluded — self-funded employer plans follow different rules — a placement advisor can tell you which kind you have in one call.
Cost depends almost entirely on your plan's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. A placement advisor can give you real numbers for your policy in one call — Verify Your Insurance — Free before you commit to anything.
How does placement work?
True Pathway Center is a referral and placement resource, not a treatment facility. A placement advisor asks which medications you take, how much, for how long, and whether alcohol or other drugs are involved, then verifies your insurance and connects you with licensed inpatient programs that fit.
Call (732) 527-3250 — when you're ready, we're available 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I become addicted to a medication my doctor prescribed?
Yes. Physical dependence and addiction can develop even when a medication starts out prescribed. It is a medical condition, and licensed programs treat it as one. Talk to your doctor before changing any dose.
How long is inpatient rehab for prescription drugs?
Detox may take longer for benzodiazepines because withdrawal is usually managed gradually. Residential care afterward often runs several weeks. Your treating clinicians set the timeline based on your situation.
Can I lose my job for going to prescription drug rehab?
Federal laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act offer protections to many people who seek treatment, though eligibility depends on your employer and situation. Many people take leave quietly and return to work. Talk to HR or an employment attorney about your specific case; a placement advisor can help you plan the timing of admission.
Will I have to stop all medications in rehab?
Not necessarily. Programs review every medication with you. Some are continued, some are tapered under supervision, and some people start medications for opioid use disorder. Decisions are made by your treating clinicians.
What if I mix pills with alcohol?
Tell the placement advisor. Combining opioids or benzodiazepines with alcohol raises overdose risk and makes withdrawal more complicated, so it calls for a program with strong medical detox. See the alcohol rehab page for more on alcohol withdrawal, and call 911 if someone cannot be woken or is struggling to breathe.
Sources
- Fentanyl, xylazine and medetomidine in NJ deaths; Naloxone365: NJ Department of Health news release, Aug 29, 2025
- Ocean County treatment admissions, 2022 (substance, level of care, referral source, municipality): NJ DMHAS Substance Abuse Overview 2022 — Ocean County
- NJ P.L.2017, c.28 — no prior authorization for the first 180 days: NJ DOBI Bulletin 17-05