Treatment FAQs: Addiction and Mental Health Questions Answered

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health conditions, you are not alone—and help is available. At Serenity at Summit in Union, New Jersey and Haverhill, Massachusetts, we provide transparent, compassionate answers to help you make informed decisions about your care.

This comprehensive guide addresses the most common questions our clients and their families ask about our treatment programs, our approach to care, and what to expect during recovery. For individuals and families in New Jersey and Massachusetts, we recognize the particular pressures of the opioid epidemic in the Northeast, as well as the importance of understanding how state-specific insurance mandates and mental health parity laws can support your family’s recovery process.

What To Know About Addiction Treatment

What types of addiction does Serenity at Summit treat?

We treat a wide range of substance use disorders, including:

• Alcohol
• Opioids
• Heroin
• Cocaine
• Benzodiazepines
• Stimulants
• Prescription drug addiction

Our clinical team has extensive experience working with clients struggling with single-substance dependence, polysubstance use, and complex addiction profiles. Regardless of which substance you are struggling with, we develop individualized treatment plans that address your specific needs, medical history, and recovery goals.

How quickly can someone become addicted?

There is no specific answer to this question. According to the book Addiction and Change: How Addictions Develop and Addicted People Recover, whether or not a person develops a substance use disorder and how fast it develops in any person depends on  factors such as:

• Genetic makeup
• Other biological factors, such as metabolism
• A person’s sex
• The type and amount of substance used
• The frequency with which a person uses their substance of choice

There is no way of determining how fast any individual will develop a substance use disorder. Some people say they were addicted when they first began using a substance, whereas others claim it took years for their problem to develop.

Certainly, some individuals do demonstrate significant signs of substance abuse rather quickly, whereas others who engage in very similar types of behaviors may never display the types of symptoms associated with a substance use disorder. The speed at which any substance abuse issue develops varies from person to person.

What is the difference between addiction and substance abuse?

While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is an important distinction. Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of drugs or alcohol that has not yet developed into full dependence. Addiction, or substance use disorder, involves a compulsive pattern of use despite negative consequences, loss of control over use, and continued use despite wanting to stop.

Is addiction a disease or a choice?

Addiction is both. It is a disease in the medical sense—it involves changes to brain chemistry and structure that are not simply reversed by willpower. Yet it also involves choice.

A person chooses to use initially. They choose whether to seek help.

They choose daily whether to engage with recovery. Understanding addiction as a disease does not eliminate personal responsibility; it places responsibility in the appropriate place.

We treat the disease. We support the choices toward recovery. We do not shame people for having an illness, and we do not excuse them from accountability for their recovery.

How long does addiction treatment typically take?

Treatment duration depends on several factors, including the severity of addiction, the presence of co-occurring mental health conditions, your support system, and your personal readiness for change. Residential treatment programs typically range from 28 to 90 days, though some individuals benefit from extended care.

What should I do if I relapse?

Relapse is not failure. It is a signal that your current recovery strategy requires adjustment. Some people return to treatment immediately.

Others step down to a more intensive level of outpatient care. We do not view relapse with judgment or punishment.

We view it as an opportunity to understand what internal or external factors contributed to the lapse and to strengthen your recovery plan. Many people achieve long-term sobriety only after one or more relapses. What matters is that you reach back out for help rather than isolating further into addiction.

Can I work while in treatment?

This depends on your level of care. If you are in our residential treatment program, your primary focus should be on intensive healing and therapy. However, we understand that employment is important for financial stability and self-esteem.

We offer professional treatment programs for employed individuals and support approved work-related activities once you have stabilized in treatment. Our PHP and IOP programs are specifically designed to allow continued employment while receiving structured treatment.

What To Know About Treatment Programs

What are the different types of treatment programs?

Addiction and mental health treatment comes in different intensities and formats based on what your specific situation requires. We offer a full continuum of care because we know that no single program works for everyone. Some people need structure, supervision, and intensive daily programming.

Others can maintain stability with less frequent but skillfully targeted interventions. Our programs range from intensive residential care through flexible outpatient therapy. This section explains the differences and helps you understand which level of care aligns with your clinical needs and life circumstances.

What is the difference between PHP, IOP, and outpatient treatment?

These programs represent different levels of care intensity. PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) offers 6-8 hours of treatment per day, 5-7 days per week, without overnight stays. It is appropriate for individuals needing structured support but who can safely manage evenings and weekends at home.

IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) provides 9-12 hours per week of treatment, typically in evening or weekend sessions, allowing continued employment and family engagement. Outpatient programs involve once or twice weekly appointments and work best for individuals with established stability, strong support systems, and lower-intensity needs.

What is the difference between CBT and DBT?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing the thought patterns and behaviors that maintain addiction and mental health symptoms. It is highly effective for depression, anxiety, and many substance use patterns.

CBT helps you understand how your thoughts influence your feelings and behaviors, and teaches you to modify automatic negative thinking. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was originally developed for people with borderline personality disorder and intense emotional dysregulation.

It focuses on acceptance, mindfulness, and developing specific skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT is particularly helpful for people with trauma, self-harm behaviors, or difficulty managing intense emotions. Many individuals benefit from both approaches at different times in their treatment.as abused.

For example, the drug Suboxone is an opiate drug that is used for the treatment of opiate withdrawal. Conversely, it may be medications that are designed to treat specific symptoms.

The use of these drugs alleviates many of the symptoms that occur from withdrawal, including nausea, anxiety, confusion, and even seizures. Other medications may address specific symptoms, such as a headache, insomnia, or lethargy.

When the medication used in the withdrawal management process is one that also can produce physical dependence, the physician will begin with a dosage that controls the person’s withdrawal symptoms. Over time, they will slowly reduce the dosage to allow the person to habituate to lower amounts of the drug in their system. Eventually, the drug can be discontinued without any adverse effects.

It is important to be aware that simply getting through the withdrawal process does not constitute recovery from a substance use disorder.

What To Expect During Treatment

What does a typical day look like in residential treatment?

A typical day in our residential program includes structured activities designed to support healing. You might start with breakfast and morning community meeting, followed by group therapy sessions addressing addiction and coping skills. Individual therapy sessions with your assigned counselor occur multiple times weekly.

Our therapeutic offerings include educational groups on topics like triggers, relapse prevention, and healthy relationship patterns. Many programs incorporate holistic activities such as yoga, meditation, and fitness, which support both physical and mental wellbeing. Evenings typically provide time for 12-step meetings, peer support, or personal reflection, allowing integration of community recovery resources alongside clinical treatment.

Does Serenity at Summit offer family therapy and family programs?

• Family therapy sessions where a clinician facilitates healing conversations
• Psychoeducational workshops to help family members understand addiction and recovery
• Support for rebuilding healthy communication and trust patterns
• Guidance for family members on how to support recovery without enabling relapse
• Processing of grief and trauma experienced during your addiction

What To Know About Mental Health Treatment

What does depression look like in someone with addiction, and how do you treat it?

Depression in the context of addiction often presents differently than depression alone. Individuals may report persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, low energy, and hopelessness that seems tied to their addiction cycle.

During assessment, we carefully distinguish between substance-induced depression and primary depression disorder, as treatment approaches differ. We use evidence-based depression treatment including:

Individual therapy (CBT or other modalities), sometimes psychiatric medications such as SSRIs, and behavioral activation to rebuild engagement with life. Our integrated approach addresses both the addiction and the depression simultaneously, recognizing that treating one without the other often leads to continued suffering or relapse. Depression management is essential to long-term recovery stability.

How do you treat anxiety disorders in individuals with substance use problems?

We use evidence-based approaches including breathing techniques, grounding exercises, and cognitive restructuring to address the root causes of anxiety and build genuine coping skills. Some clients benefit from anti-anxiety medications prescribed carefully and monitored by our physicians, with careful attention to avoiding medications with high abuse potential.

We work to help clients develop tolerance for the discomfort of anxiety rather than reaching for substances to escape it. This builds genuine coping capacity that lasts beyond treatment.

What is PTSD and how does it connect to addiction?

Post-traumatic stress disorder develops following exposure to a traumatic event that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Many people with addiction have experienced trauma before their substance use began (childhood abuse, combat, accidents, violence).

Others developed PTSD after substance use began, through overdoses, legal consequences, violence, or loss during addiction. We recognize that trauma and addiction are deeply intertwined. Our PTSD treatment combines trauma-informed addiction therapy with specific trauma therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Prolonged Exposure Therapy to help you process trauma safely.

How do you approach trauma treatment in the context of addiction?

Trauma treatment in the context of addiction requires special care because trauma often drives substance use as a self-medication strategy. We first help clients establish safety and stabilization, teaching them to recognize trauma triggers and manage trauma responses without using substances.

Second, we facilitate gradual processing of the trauma through evidence-based therapies in a carefully contained therapeutic relationship. Third, we help clients develop genuine mastery and resilience, rebuilding self-efficacy and reconnecting with life beyond trauma and addiction. We use modalities like DBT (which incorporates emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills crucial for trauma recovery) and holistic approaches like yoga and somatic therapies to help clients feel safe in their own bodies.

What is bipolar disorder, and how is it managed in treatment?

Bipolar disorder involves cycles of depression and mania (or hypomania, a less severe elevated mood state). During manic or hypomanic episodes, individuals may engage in risky behavior including:

• Substance use
• Impulsive decisions
• Decreased need for sleep and inflated self-confidence

During depressive episodes, hopelessness and low energy increase, and self-medication through substances often increases. Bipolar disorder combined with substance use is particularly challenging because mood instability makes recovery work difficult.

We manage bipolar disorder through mood-stabilizing medications prescribed and monitored by psychiatrists, combined with therapy that helps clients understand their mood patterns and develop early warning systems for manic and depressive episodes. Family education is particularly important, as family members often recognize mood changes before the client does. With proper treatment, individuals with bipolar disorder and addiction can achieve stable recovery.

How does ADHD relate to addiction, and what treatment approaches do you use?

We use structured routines, external organization systems, and skills training to help manage ADHD symptoms. We consult with our physicians regarding ADHD medication options, always selecting medications with low abuse potential and providing close monitoring.

Treatment also includes coaching on attention management, task prioritization, and impulse control. Many clients report that treating ADHD concurrently with addiction significantly improves their recovery outcomes and quality of life.

How do you treat grief and loss in individuals struggling with addiction?

Grief and loss often precede or accompany addiction. Many clients have experienced deaths of loved ones, loss of relationships due to their addiction, loss of employment, loss of identity, or loss of years to active addiction.

Some use substances to avoid or numb grief. We create space in treatment for clients to actually feel and process these losses rather than escape them. Grief counseling, peer support, and sometimes individual therapy specifically focused on bereavement help clients move through grief toward meaning-making and renewed engagement with life.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and how do we treat it?

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that occurs primarily in winter months, characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest in activities, sleep changes, and fatigue. Some individuals with SAD increase substance use in winter months as a way to manage symptoms.

We treat SAD with light therapy (bright light boxes), vitamin D supplementation, cognitive behavioral therapy adapted for seasonal depression, and sometimes medication adjustments. We encourage scheduling outdoor activities, conducting therapy appointments during daytime hours to maximize exposure to natural light, and helping clients plan preventive strategies for future seasons. Recognizing that seasonal mood changes are a treatable medical condition (not a personal weakness) is liberating and supports motivation for recovery.

How do psychiatric medications work alongside addiction treatment, and can they be addictive?

Psychiatric medications treat the underlying conditions driving substance use. When depression, anxiety, PTSD, or bipolar disorder go untreated, people relapse to self-medicate.

We work closely with psychiatrists who carefully select medications that treat mental illness without high abuse potential. We discuss with each client the purpose of their medication, expected effects, possible side effects, and timeline for effectiveness.

Some psychiatric medications take weeks to work, requiring client patience and adherence. Regular psychiatric monitoring ensures medications are working well and are adjusted if needed. Addiction to psychiatric medications is a real concern, which is why we carefully track medication use and avoid high-risk medications for individuals with substance use history.

What does dual diagnosis really mean, and how is treatment different?

Dual diagnosis means having both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition occurring at the same time. These conditions are not separate problems to be treated sequentially; they are intertwined and must be treated together.

Someone with depression may use alcohol to self-medicate. Someone with bipolar disorder may use stimulants during depressive phases.

Someone with PTSD may use opioids to numb trauma responses. Treating only the addiction while ignoring the mental health condition leads to relapse.

Treating only the mental health while ignoring the addiction perpetuates substance use. Our dual diagnosis programs address both simultaneously through integrated psychiatric care, medication management, and therapy specifically designed for co-occurring conditions.

What To Know About the Practical Aspects of Getting Help

We recognize that financial concerns often create barriers to seeking treatment. This section addresses the practical realities of insurance coverage, admission processes, and payment options at Serenity at Summit in Union, New Jersey and Haverhill, Massachusetts. Our goal is to remove obstacles so you can focus on recovery rather than administrative stress.

We have experienced financial counselors who understand insurance plans, can help you navigate benefits, and can work creatively when coverage is limited. We do not believe financial barriers should prevent anyone from getting the treatment they need.

Does Serenity at Summit accept insurance, and how do I verify my coverage?

Yes, we work with most major insurance plans. We recommend verifying your coverage before admission to understand your benefits, deductibles, and any out-of-pocket costs. You can verify your insurance coverage online through our website or call our admissions team.

We have insurance specialists who can answer questions about your specific plan and help you navigate the authorization process. We also work with clients who need to pay out-of-pocket or who have limited insurance coverage. Financial barriers should never prevent someone from getting treatment; we work creatively with each client to find a path forward.

How do I get admitted, and what is the process like?

The admissions process begins with an intake call where one of our specialists learns about your situation, substance use history, mental health history, medical history, and recovery goals. Based on this conversation, we recommend an appropriate level of care.

What if I cannot get away for residential treatment due to work or family obligations?

Our professional programs are designed for working individuals, understanding unique challenges that professionals face. Some clients negotiate a leave of absence for intensive residential treatment, returning to work after completing the program. Others phase into treatment more gradually.

What happens after I complete treatment—do you offer aftercare or alumni support?

We provide a detailed plan for ongoing treatment, including outpatient therapy, psychiatry appointments, and group meetings. We also help identify support resources, community recovery groups, and strategies for preventing relapse. We encourage participation in 12-step programs or other peer support communities that provide ongoing structure and connection.

What To Know About Daily Life While Undergoing Treatment

What is daily life like during treatment?

Many people entering treatment have concerns and questions about what daily life looks like inside our programs. We want you to understand what to expect, how your time will be structured, what rules exist and why, and how we balance structure with autonomy. Our goal is to create an environment where healing can happen—which requires safety, predictability, and clear expectations.

At the same time, we treat you as an adult capable of making choices and participating in your own treatment planning. The following section addresses common questions about life during residential treatment at Serenity at Summit.

Can I contact family while in treatment?

Yes. We encourage healthy family contact as part of healing. Residential clients typically have phone call privileges and scheduled visiting hours for family and friends.

Some programs offer family therapy sessions where clinical staff help facilitate healthy communication and repair relationships strained by addiction. We also recognize that some clients need boundaries with family members who enable addiction or undermine recovery, and we support those boundaries.

What are the rules and structure in residential treatment?

• Abstinence from all substances
• Participation in scheduled group and individual therapy sessions
• Attending community meals
• Maintaining curfew
• Respectful behavior toward staff and peers

We have policies regarding phone use, visitation, outside activities, and personal items. These guidelines exist to create a safe, structured environment where you can focus on recovery without distractions or triggers.

What happens if I refuse treatment or want to leave?

We respect your autonomy. In most cases, treatment is voluntary, and you have the legal right to leave.

However, we encourage you to speak with your clinical team before making that decision. Often, resistance to treatment emerges when someone is uncomfortable or when the work becomes challenging.

Our clinicians are trained to understand and work through these moments. A conversation with your therapist, psychiatrist, or clinical director can sometimes illuminate what is driving the urge to leave and whether there are modifications we can make to your treatment plan.

If you are still determined to leave after these conversations, we will support your transition and discuss aftercare options. If you are in a state-ordered or court-ordered program, legal requirements may differ, and our admissions team can clarify those parameters.

How do you handle triggers and managing cravings during treatment?

Managing cravings and triggers is central to our treatment work. We teach concrete coping skills including mindfulness, grounding techniques, distress tolerance strategies, and healthy emotional regulation.

We identify your personal triggers—emotional states, places, people, times of day—and develop specific plans for managing them. Group therapy provides the powerful experience of discussing cravings with peers who understand the struggle.

Individual therapy allows you to explore the underlying emotions and needs driving cravings. Holistic practices like exercise, yoga, and meditation regulate your nervous system and reduce overall craving intensity.

When cravings arise during treatment, you have immediate access to clinical support rather than being alone with the struggle. This is one of the gifts of residential programming: you have real-time support when things get hard.

Is there access to holistic activities and wellness during treatment?

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Mindfulness practices
• Fitness activities
• Art or music therapy
• Time in nature
• Nutritional education

Ready to Take the Next Step

We hope this FAQ has addressed many of your questions about addiction treatment, mental health care, and what Serenity at Summit offers. Recovery is possible.

We have two conveniently located facilities: our comprehensive campus in Union, New Jersey, offering the full continuum of care from detox through outpatient treatment, and our specialized services in Haverhill, Massachusetts. We are ready to help you.