Fentanyl and opioid addiction remain serious concerns for families throughout Atlantic City and the surrounding South Jersey communities. Although New Jersey has made progress in reducing overdose deaths, opioids continue to account for a substantial portion of the people entering addiction treatment in Atlantic County.
The latest county-level treatment statistics help put the scope of the problem into perspective. According to the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Atlantic County residents accounted for 7,071 substance use treatment admissions in 2024, representing 3,263 unique clients. Heroin was identified as the primary drug in 2,786 admissions, or 39%, while other opiates accounted for another 438 admissions. More than one-quarter of all admissions—1,845, or 26%—involved intravenous drug use.
These statistics demonstrate why opioid addiction remains an important behavioral health issue in Atlantic County even as New Jersey makes broader progress in addressing the overdose crisis. For individuals who have developed physical dependence on fentanyl, heroin, prescription opioids, or other opioid drugs, treatment may need to begin with medically supervised detox. At Enlightened Recovery Detox in Atlantic City, our medical detox is designed to provide a safe, supportive environment for stabilization while preparing clients for the next phase of recovery.
What the Latest Atlantic County Opioid Statistics Show
Atlantic County’s 2024 treatment data from the DMHAS provides an important local snapshot.
Of the 7,071 treatment admissions among Atlantic County residents:
- 2,786 involved heroin as the primary drug — 39%
- 438 involved other opiates — 6%
- 1,845 admissions involved intravenous drug use — 26%
- 1,123 admissions were for opioid-maintenance outpatient care — 16%
- 906 admissions had buprenorphine planned as part of treatment — 13%
- 1,414 admissions had methadone planned — 20%
- 1,800 admissions were for residential detoxification — 25%
The data becomes even more significant when looking at treatment facilities located in Atlantic County rather than Atlantic County residents alone. Treatment sites within Atlantic County recorded 12,703 admissions involving 6,499 unique clients in 2024. Of those admissions, 3,856 listed heroin as the primary drug and another 737 involved other opiates. Atlantic County treatment facilities also provided 4,168 residential detox admissions, representing approximately one-third of all admissions to treatment sites in the county.
People traveled into Atlantic County for treatment from throughout New Jersey. Atlantic County facilities served residents of Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, and numerous other counties. These numbers illustrate something important about Atlantic County: it is not only experiencing the effects of substance use locally. It also serves as an important treatment destination for people throughout South Jersey.
Heroin Numbers Are Declining, but the Opioid Problem Has Not Disappeared
There is an encouraging trend within the local statistics. In 2023, heroin was reported as the primary drug in 3,116 Atlantic County resident treatment admissions, representing 43% of admissions. In 2024, that number decreased to 2,786 admissions, or 39%. That improvement matters. However, it should not be interpreted to mean that opioid addiction is no longer a major concern. The modern opioid crisis has become increasingly complicated by the illicit drug supply. What someone believes is heroin or another drug may contain fentanyl or other substances, creating additional uncertainty around potency and overdose risk. For people who have developed opioid dependence, another challenge occurs when they try to stop.
Why Opioid Dependence Can Make Quitting So Difficult
Repeated opioid use can cause the body to adapt to the presence of the drug. Over time, a person may develop both tolerance and physical dependence. Tolerance means someone may need increasingly large amounts of an opioid to experience the same effect. Physical dependence means the body has adapted to regular opioid exposure. When use suddenly stops or decreases substantially, withdrawal symptoms can occur.
Common symptoms of opioid withdrawal can include:
- Muscle and body aches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sweating and chills
- Anxiety and agitation
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Watery eyes
- Increased heart rate
- Intense opioid cravings
The severity and duration of withdrawal can differ considerably depending on the opioid involved, frequency and duration of use, dosage, overall health, and whether other substances are being used at the same time. Fear of withdrawal can become part of what keeps someone trapped in active addiction. A person may genuinely want to stop but begin using again when withdrawal symptoms become overwhelming. At that point, substance use may no longer be driven solely by seeking intoxication. It may also become a way of temporarily relieving withdrawal. Medical detox in Atlantic City, NJ is designed to interrupt that cycle.
When Is Medical Detox Appropriate for Opioid Addiction?
Not everyone who uses an opioid requires inpatient detoxification. The appropriate level of care should be determined through an individualized clinical assessment. However, professional detox may be appropriate when someone has developed significant physical dependence, experiences withdrawal when reducing use, has repeatedly tried to stop without success, experiences intense cravings, uses opioids frequently or in large amounts, has a history of overdose, or is using multiple substances. Co-occurring medical or mental health concerns can also affect the appropriate level of care.
At Enlightened Recovery, the detox process begins with an assessment so the clinical and medical team can better understand the substances being used, frequency of use, withdrawal history, medical needs, mental health symptoms, medications, previous treatment experiences, and other factors that could influence care.
What Fentanyl Detox Looks Like at Enlightened Recovery
Entering detox can feel intimidating, particularly for someone who has experienced withdrawal before. Enlightened Recovery Detox provides 24/7 medical supervision within a structured environment where withdrawal can be monitored and managed. Detox plans are individualized rather than applying the same protocol to every client.
Medical and clinical professionals work together throughout the process. This coordination is particularly important because addiction is rarely limited to physical dependence alone. Someone entering fentanyl or opioid detox may also be experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep problems, relationship difficulties, employment problems, or other challenges that affect recovery. Enlightened Recovery’s approach considers that broader picture. Medical stabilization is important, but it is intended to create enough physical and emotional stability for the deeper work of recovery to begin.
A Detox Environment Designed Around Comfort and Dignity
The environment where detox takes place can also influence someone’s early treatment experience. Enlightened Recovery Detox provides a calm, supportive setting with private rooms and comfortable common spaces, while medical support is available around the clock. The purpose is not to make detox feel clinical or punitive. People entering treatment are often physically uncomfortable, emotionally exhausted, frightened about withdrawal, or uncertain about what recovery will look like. Providing privacy, medical oversight, compassionate support, and clear communication can help make the first days of recovery feel more manageable.
Detox Is the Beginning, Not the Finish Line
One of the most important things families should understand about opioid detox is that getting the substance out of the body does not automatically treat addiction. Detox addresses physical stabilization. It does not, by itself, resolve the behavioral and psychological patterns associated with substance use. It does not automatically address trauma. It does not repair relationships. It does not eliminate environmental triggers.And it does not teach someone how to respond when cravings, stress, anxiety, grief, or other challenges appear after treatment.That is why continuing care matters.
Enlightened Recovery offers a broader continuum of care that includes detox, residential treatment, partial care, intensive outpatient programming, outpatient treatment, and alumni support. Clients who require additional structure after detox may transition into residential treatment rather than leaving stabilization without a plan for what comes next.
Treating Mental Health Alongside Opioid Addiction
For some individuals, opioid addiction exists alongside depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, or another mental health condition. The relationship can work in several directions. Someone experiencing emotional pain may begin using opioids as a way of coping. Substance use may provide temporary relief while gradually creating additional problems. Continued opioid use and repeated withdrawal can then further affect mood, sleep, anxiety, relationships, and daily functioning.
Enlightened Recovery provides treatment for substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and co-occurring conditions, allowing care plans to address more than substance use alone. For someone who repeatedly returns to opioid use during periods of anxiety, depression, trauma symptoms, or emotional distress, addressing those underlying concerns may become an important part of relapse prevention.
Medication Can Be Part of Opioid Recovery
Atlantic County’s treatment statistics also demonstrate the role medication can play in opioid addiction care. Among Atlantic County resident treatment admissions in 2024, methadone was planned in 1,414 admissions, while buprenorphine was planned in 906. Medications for opioid use disorder can be incorporated into treatment when clinically appropriate. The appropriate medication and treatment plan depend on the individual and should be determined by qualified medical professionals. Medication does not eliminate the need to address the psychological, behavioral, social, and environmental aspects of addiction. Instead, it can be one component of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Recovery Needs More Than Clinical Treatment
Enlightened Recovery’s South Jersey recovery community extends beyond detox and residential treatment. Through its connection with the Hansen Foundation, individuals can have access to a broader recovery ecosystem that emphasizes stable housing, employment, life skills, community, accountability, and continued engagement. Enlightened Farm and the Solid Roots Work Program provide opportunities for people in early recovery to gain employment experience, develop routines, work alongside others, and rebuild a sense of responsibility and purpose.
These resources address a question that becomes increasingly important after someone becomes physically stable:
- What are they going back to?
- A sustainable recovery plan needs to consider more than whether someone has stopped using fentanyl.
- Where will they live?
- Who will support them?
- How will they spend their days?
- What happens when stress returns?
- What gives them a reason to continue protecting their recovery?
Building answers to those questions is part of creating a life beyond addiction.
Choosing an Accredited Detox Program in Atlantic City
Families comparing detox programs should consider medical supervision, clinical capabilities, treatment philosophy, continuing-care options, environment, and accreditation. Enlightened Recovery is Joint Commission accredited, reflecting adherence to established standards for healthcare quality and safety. The organization combines medical oversight with individualized treatment planning and a whole-person philosophy that recognizes the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of recovery.
Most importantly, detox is connected to continued care. The objective is not simply to help someone endure withdrawal and send them home. It is to stabilize the person, understand what contributed to their addiction, determine what level of treatment should follow, and create a path forward.
Opioid Recovery Can Start With Medical Detox in Atlantic City, NJ Today
The latest Atlantic County data shows both progress and continued need. Heroin-related treatment admissions among county residents decreased between 2023 and 2024, but heroin and other opioids still accounted for thousands of admissions. Approximately one in four Atlantic County resident admissions involved residential detox, while treatment centers located within Atlantic County provided more than 4,100 residential detox admissions in a single year.
Behind every admission is a person—and often a family—trying to find a way out of addiction. For someone physically dependent on fentanyl, heroin, or another opioid, that process may begin with medical stabilization. At Enlightened Recovery Detox in Atlantic City, clients receive medically supervised care in a supportive environment, followed by access to a broader continuum of addiction and mental health treatment designed to address what comes after withdrawal.
