The co-occurring disorders program is short-term residential treatment for adults who have a substance use disorder and a mental health condition at the same time. It takes place at Maplewood Treatment Solutions, a licensed 16-bed residential program in Merchantville, NJ, where both conditions are treated together by one team. A co-occurring disorders program is also clinically known as dual diagnosis.
Who Is the Co-Occurring Disorders Program For?
The program admits adults 18–55 who:
- Have a substance use disorder as their primary diagnosis
- Also live with a mental health condition such as depression, an anxiety disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, a sleep disorder, or a personality disorder, or are struggling with grief
- Have completed detox and are medically cleared
- Need more structure than outpatient care can provide
A formal psychiatric diagnosis isn’t required before admission. The psychiatric evaluation at intake identifies which conditions are present and how they interact. We can accommodate a past eating disorder only when it’s stable.
Some situations need a different level of care first, such as active withdrawal that requires detox, a psychiatric emergency, or medical needs that require a hospital. Maplewood also doesn’t admit people whose primary need is mental health treatment without a substance use disorder. The admissions team reviews each situation individually.
How Does the Program Work?
The co-occurring disorders program runs within Maplewood’s short-term residential treatment. A typical stay lasts 21–30 days. If that range doesn’t fit your situation, the admissions team will work with you on a solution.
| Stage | Typical timing | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Intake and psychiatric evaluation | Days 1–3 | Substance use history, psychiatric evaluation, medication review and an integrated treatment plan |
| Early residential care | Rest of the first week | A lighter schedule, medications started or adjusted, and an introduction to groups |
| Active treatment | Weeks 2–3 | Weekly individual therapy, daily groups, psychiatric follow-up and family therapy |
| Discharge planning | Final week | Outpatient psychiatric and therapy referrals, step-down care and a relapse-prevention plan |
Throughout the stay, psychiatric care and addiction treatment follow one plan. Our team coordinates medication changes, therapy goals, and discharge steps instead of handling them separately.
Who Is on Your Treatment Team?
- A primary therapist for individual therapy, weekly and more often when clinically needed
- Psychiatric providers for evaluation and psychiatric medication management, with psychiatric nurse practitioners on call
- Nursing staff on site
- A case manager for discharge planning, housing, and outpatient referrals
- Group facilitators leading CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, process and mindfulness groups
Maplewood’s Medical Directors, Dr. Jeffrey H. Simon, MD, an addiction psychiatrist, and Dr. Edward W. Pearson, MD, oversee medical care. Clinical care is overseen by Clinical Director Marcus Joseph, LAMFT, LCADC, CCS, together with the rest of the Maplewood clinical team.
How Do You Join the Program?
- Call (856) 485-9814 or verify your insurance online. The admissions team answers 24/7.
- Complete a free substance abuse evaluation by phone or in person.
- Plan your arrival day. We can help with transportation.
Maplewood is in-network with Horizon BCBS NJ, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, and other major carriers, and your insurance coverage for rehab is verified before admission. Maplewood does not accept Medicaid or Medicare. For questions about the program, contact our admissions team.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Co-Occurring Disorders Program
Do I need a mental health diagnosis before admission?
No. Many people arrive without a formal psychiatric diagnosis. The psychiatric evaluation at intake identifies which conditions are present, and the treatment plan is built from there.
What if mental health is my main concern?
Maplewood’s program requires a substance use disorder as the primary diagnosis. If your main need is mental health treatment without substance use, a mental health program is usually a better fit. Our admissions team can talk through options with you.
How is the co-occurring disorders program different from standard residential treatment at Maplewood?
It’s the same residential program, in the same house, with the same schedule and team. The co-occurring disorders program describes the integrated psychiatric care residents receive when they have a mental health condition alongside a substance use disorder: psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and therapy focused on both conditions.