Inpatient Rehab Placement for Stafford Township & LBI
Ocean County by the numbersStafford Township residents accounted for 252 addiction treatment admissions in 2022 — 8.8 per 1,000 residents. Across Ocean County, suspected overdose deaths have fallen 31% from the 2020 peak.
Inpatient Rehab Options for Stafford Township Residents
True Pathway Center is a referral and placement resource — not a treatment facility. A placement advisor talks with Manahawkin and Long Beach Island callers about what is happening, verifies insurance, and then we connect you with licensed inpatient programs that fit the substance, clinical needs and plan.
Licensed programs in our referral network typically include medically supervised detox, residential treatment, and dual diagnosis care. If you are weighing options, read how inpatient rehab differs from outpatient care.
Withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines can be dangerous and should be medically supervised. Please call before stopping suddenly.
Stafford Township's Drug Landscape
In 2022, state treatment data counted 252 admissions from Stafford Township — 4% of the Ocean County total and 8.8 per 1,000 residents. These are admissions, not unique people. Admissions are counted by a person's home address, so seasonal workers who live elsewhere and spend summers on Long Beach Island show up in their home town's numbers, not Stafford's.
Countywide, alcohol was the primary substance in 42% of admissions, followed by heroin at 38%. On a resort island where drinking is part of the scenery, alcohol problems can hide in plain sight for a long time.
There is real progress to build on: Ocean County suspected overdose deaths fell from 245 in 2020 to 168 in 2023.
Who Calls Us from Manahawkin and LBI?
Stafford is the mainland gateway to Long Beach Island, and its callers reflect that. Many work the LBI seasonal economy — restaurants, bars, rentals, marinas, construction and landscaping — where long summer hours and slow winters can fuel heavy drinking or pill use. Others are year-round families in Manahawkin, commuters on the Parkway, and retirees in the township's adult communities.
Seasonal workers often ask whether they can afford to step away mid-summer. A placement advisor can help you think through timing, leave options and coverage. Most people in Ocean County — 59% of 2022 admissions — refer themselves.
Towns and Neighborhoods We Serve Near Stafford Township
Placement advisors help callers from Manahawkin, every part of Stafford Township, and the Long Beach Island communities, plus neighbors in Barnegat and Little Egg Harbor. See all 12 towns on the Ocean County locations hub.
Getting to Our Office from Stafford Township
Our office at 1217 Hooper Ave in Toms River is about 24 miles from Manahawkin, directly beside Ocean County Mall at Hooper and Bay Avenues. It is a business office for in-person consultations — nobody stays or receives care there.
Take Route 72 west to Parkway Exit 63, head north to Exit 82 (Route 37 East), then use the Hooper Avenue North jug-handle. Allow 30–40 minutes from Manahawkin, more from the island in summer. Because of the distance, most Stafford and LBI callers handle everything by phone.
By car
From Manahawkin, take Route 72 west to the Garden State Parkway at Exit 63 and head north. From Long Beach Island, cross the causeway on Route 72 west first. Stay on the Parkway to Exit 82 (Route 37 East), follow Route 37 East and use the jug-handle for Hooper Avenue North, then continue on Hooper Avenue to Bay Avenue. The office at 1217 Hooper Ave is directly beside Ocean County Mall. Allow roughly 30–40 minutes from Manahawkin, longer from LBI on summer weekends.
By bus / transit
NJ Transit bus routes 67, 137 and 319 serve the Toms River area, and Ocean County's Ocean Ride service (including the OC10 route) offers county bus options. Stops and times change, so check current NJ Transit and Ocean Ride schedules before planning a trip from Manahawkin or Long Beach Island. Most callers start with a phone call — no trip needed. A placement advisor can verify insurance and begin matching you with a licensed program entirely by phone at (732) 527-3250.
Does Insurance Cover Rehab for Stafford Township Residents?
Often, yes. Under New Jersey's Chapter 28 (P.L.2017, c.28), carriers may not require prior authorization or utilization management for substance use treatment at in-network facilities for the first 180 days per plan year. The covered person's physician, psychologist or psychiatrist determines medical necessity in that window.
The rule 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.
Seasonal workers with individual plans can be covered too. Cost depends on your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. See our insurance guide or call (732) 527-3250 to Verify Your Insurance — Free.
Local Help in Stafford Township
- Blue HART at the Stafford Township Police Department: walk in, ask for help with addiction, and be connected to treatment without charges. The published day is Tuesday, 9 AM–5 PM — call ahead to confirm current days.
- Naloxone365: free, anonymous naloxone at participating pharmacies, no prescription, ages 14+.
- Ocean County Health Department free Narcan kits and training: 732-341-9700 ext. 7285. More on our homepage.
Local resources near Stafford Township
- Blue HART (Stafford Township Police Department)
Walk-in addiction help with no charges; published day Tuesday 9 AM–5 PM — call ahead to confirm current days. Source - Naloxone365
Free naloxone at participating NJ pharmacies, no prescription, anonymous, ages 14+. Source - Ocean County Health Department — Narcan training
Free Narcan kits and quick training, 732-341-9700 ext. 7285. Source
Our office
1217 Hooper Ave, Toms River, NJ 08753 — Directly beside Ocean County Mall (Hooper & Bay Aves). In-person consultations are by appointment; most callers never need to make the trip.
Nearby: Barnegat · Little Egg Harbor
Frequently Asked Questions
I work on LBI for the summer but live elsewhere. Can you still help?
Yes. Placement advisors help anyone who calls, wherever they live. Coverage depends on your plan, not where you work for the season.
What is Blue HART in Stafford?
Blue HART lets you walk into a participating police department, including Stafford's, ask for help with addiction, and be connected to treatment with no charges. Stafford's published day is Tuesday — call ahead to confirm current days.
Can I be fired for going to rehab?
The FMLA and ADA may protect your job and leave, depending on your employer and circumstances. Check with HR or an attorney.
What happens in detox?
Detox in a licensed program is medically monitored withdrawal. It is the first step; programs we refer callers to typically continue into residential treatment.
Sources
- Ocean County suspected overdose deaths, 2019–2022: Ocean County Overdose Response Plan, 2024 update (NJ Cares historic data)
- 168 suspected overdose deaths (2023); 66 (Jan–Jul 2024); Narcan administrations: Jersey Shore Online, citing NJ Attorney General data
- 31% decline from the 2020 peak (245 → 168): Calculated from Ocean County Overdose Response Plan and NJ Attorney General data
- 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
- 2020 Census populations: U.S. Census 2020 (via Ocean County, NJ reference; Census QuickFacts)
- Admissions per 1,000 residents: Calculated from NJ DMHAS 2022 admissions and 2020 Census population
- NJ P.L.2017, c.28 — no prior authorization for the first 180 days: NJ DOBI Bulletin 17-05
- Ocean County Health Department Narcan training and phone lines: Ocean County Health Department — Overdose Response Resources
- Blue HART program and participating police departments: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Blue HART brochure
- NJ Transit 67, 137, 319; Ocean Ride: Greater Mercer TMA — Ocean County Bus Service
- Ocean County Mall, 1201 Hooper Ave: Simon — Ocean County Mall