Christie Duffy
Correspondent
Walk into one of the patient rooms and you feel more like your in a boutique hotel than a detox center. They’ve got 40 beds in private and double rooms, complete with fresh flowers and gift baskets.
“Drug and alcohol treatment for the longest time was 12-step based. In the last 20 years there have been a lot of break throughs in addiction medicine,” said Summit Behavioral Health CEO and Co-Founder Thomas D. Allen, Jr.
Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy– a recovering addict himself says comforts like yoga, reiki, massages and on-site counseling that are offered at this new center will help to restore the dignity of recovering addicts.
“When dealing with people who are suffering from addiction and mental illnesses they are often treated as second class citizens. They’re disregarded and marginalized in our society,” said Kennedy
At today’s open house, Kennedy pledged to “push back” for equal medical treatment for those suffering from illnesses of the brain and the body.
“And that’s why having a place that’s welcoming and that honors and doesn’t make them feel like 2nd class citizens is so important,” said Kennedy.
There are 21 detox facilities in New Jersey, which a former Governor Jim McGreevey says is not enough.
“There is no doubt. NJ has an acute shortage of detox centers and residential treatment beds,” said McGreevey.
McGreevey is a member of Governor Christie’s task force on drug use. According to the state medical examiner’s office from 2010 to 2012, drug-related deaths jumped over 53 percent, to nearly 1,300 lives lost.
But more treatment facilities like this have been opening in New Jersey in recent years.
Facilities ranging from detox to longer term inpatient care have increased from 341 in 2007 to 375 in 2012.
Serenity at Summit is still waiting for final approval on its state license but its CEO says they’re targeting July 1st– for when they’ll start taking patients.