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Written by Marcus Joseph, LAMFT, LCADC, CCS | Medically Reviewed by Dr. Edward Pearson, Medical Director
Compassionate, evidence-based residential treatment for heroin and opioid use disorder at Maplewood Treatment Solutions in Merchantville, NJ
Heroin addiction is brutal — physically, psychologically, and relationally. If you’re watching someone you love disappear into this disease, or if you’re the one struggling to get free, know this: heroin addiction is treatable. People recover from it every day, even when it feels completely impossible.
Heroin is an illicit opioid derived from morphine. When used, it binds to opioid receptors in the brain and produces intense euphoria, sedation, and pain relief. Over time, the brain adapts to the presence of heroin: it stops producing natural endorphins and becomes physically dependent on the drug just to function normally. NIDA describes opioid use disorder as a chronic, relapsing condition driven by neurological changes in dopamine and reward systems — changes that require comprehensive medical and behavioral treatment to address effectively.
This is why heroin withdrawal is so physically overwhelming — and why willpower alone is rarely enough to get through it. The brain has been chemically altered. Treatment has to address that.
At Maplewood Treatment Solutions in Merchantville, NJ, we provide medically supervised inpatient care, evidence-based residential treatment, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) — the current gold standard for opioid use disorder. According to SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol 63, MAT is the most effective treatment for opioid use disorder, significantly reducing opioid use, infectious disease transmission, and criminal activity while improving treatment retention and social functioning.
Most heroin sold on the street today is contaminated with — or entirely replaced by — illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. A dose that looks identical to last week’s can be dramatically stronger, which is why overdose deaths have skyrocketed. The CDC reported that in 2023, approximately 69% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States involved synthetic opioids — primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
If someone you know uses heroin, this is the reality they’re navigating. Treatment is not just about getting clean. It can be a matter of survival. Our fentanyl withdrawal management program is specifically designed to manage the unique challenges of fentanyl exposure, including its longer half-life and unpredictable dosing in the illicit supply.
Heroin withdrawal begins within 6 to 24 hours of the last use and typically peaks around 48 to 72 hours. Common symptoms include:
While heroin withdrawal is rarely fatal in otherwise healthy adults, it is extraordinarily uncomfortable — and without medical support, the overwhelming majority of people relapse during this window simply to make the pain stop. That cycle is common and not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that withdrawal management without medical support doesn’t work for most people.
At Maplewood, our clinical team manages heroin withdrawal using FDA-approved medications and around-the-clock monitoring, making the process safer and significantly more bearable. Our withdrawal management protocols align with the clinical framework established by the ASAM Criteria, ensuring every patient receives care matched to their specific clinical needs.
The clinical research on opioid use disorder is clear: medication-assisted treatment saves lives. MAT uses FDA-approved medications — combined with counseling and behavioral therapy — to reduce cravings, prevent relapse, and support long-term recovery. NIDA’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment confirms that MAT, when combined with behavioral therapies, addresses the full spectrum of patient needs and produces better outcomes than either approach alone.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that relieves cravings and withdrawal without producing a significant high. At Maplewood, we use Subutex — buprenorphine without naloxone — rather than combination products, because the majority of our patients have been exposed to illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Using buprenorphine without the naloxone component eliminates the risk of precipitated withdrawal in patients whose systems still contain fentanyl. Research consistently shows buprenorphine reduces overdose deaths and increases treatment retention. SAMHSA’s TIP 63 identifies buprenorphine as a first-line pharmacotherapy for opioid use disorder with a robust evidence base.
For patients who have completed the initial stabilization phase and want a medication-based relapse prevention strategy, naltrexone blocks opioid receptors entirely. Available as a monthly injectable (Vivitrol), it can be a powerful tool for motivated patients in early recovery.
MAT is not “trading one addiction for another.” It is evidence-based, physician-supervised medicine — the same way a diabetic takes insulin. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t following the current science. Every medication protocol at Maplewood is individualized to the patient’s clinical profile, history, and goals.
The first step for most patients is medically supervised inpatient care. Our team will assess your health, opioid use history, and any co-occurring conditions. Based on that assessment, we’ll develop a personalized treatment protocol that may include Subutex (buprenorphine without naloxone) for withdrawal management, symptomatic comfort medications, and continuous nursing oversight.
You will be monitored closely. You will not be alone. And you will be treated with respect.
Once acute withdrawal has subsided, we strongly recommend stepping into our residential treatment program. Residential care gives you the time, structure, and clinical support to do the deeper work that prevents relapse — processing the trauma, relationships, and patterns that drove the addiction in the first place.
During residential treatment, you’ll work with a primary therapist in individual sessions, participate in evidence-based group therapy, and — if appropriate — continue MAT under physician supervision.
Our heroin treatment program integrates multiple evidence-based therapeutic approaches. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) challenges distorted thinking patterns and builds practical coping skills for life without opioids. Trauma-Informed Care is central to our model — a significant portion of people with heroin addiction have trauma histories, and our staff is trained to treat both the addiction and the underlying trauma simultaneously. Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) strengthens your own internal reasons to change and sustain recovery. Relapse Prevention work helps you identify triggers, build a recovery network, and plan for the hard days that come in early sobriety. And because heroin addiction devastates families, Family Therapy is available to help rebuild those relationships as part of your recovery foundation.
We work with adults who are:
We also treat people who have been through treatment before. Prior treatment doesn’t disqualify you — it’s part of the story, and we’ll use what you’ve learned to build a stronger plan. If your opioid use began with prescription painkillers, our prescription drug addiction treatment program may also be relevant to your history.
We believe that cost should never be a barrier to getting help. We work with most major insurance providers and offer flexible payment plans to make treatment accessible. Our admissions team will guide you through the process, verify your coverage, and help you find the best financial solution.
We know that the moment someone is ready to get help can be fleeting. We work fast.
When you call, we’ll do a brief confidential assessment over the phone, verify your insurance coverage, and get you scheduled for admission — typically within 24 to 48 hours. Most major insurers cover opioid addiction treatment, including withdrawal management and residential care. Don’t let uncertainty about cost stop you from making the call.
Yes. Our physicians can prescribe FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. We use Subutex (buprenorphine without naloxone) specifically to reduce the risk of precipitated withdrawal in patients exposed to fentanyl. We’ll assess which medication, if any, is appropriate for your situation during intake.
The withdrawal management phase typically takes 5 to 10 days for heroin, sometimes longer depending on fentanyl exposure. Residential treatment is generally 28 to 90 days. Research shows that longer treatment episodes are associated with better long-term outcomes.
Family involvement is an important part of recovery. We have structured family programming and visitation policies designed to support both patients and their loved ones. We’ll share the specifics when you call.
This is one of the hardest situations families face. We can speak with you confidentially about what options exist, including approaches for helping someone enter treatment voluntarily. Call us and we’ll talk through it.
Yes. Given the current drug supply, we treat nearly all opioid use as potential fentanyl exposure. Our fentanyl withdrawal management protocol accounts for the longer half-life and potency of fentanyl relative to heroin.
No — in fact, the evidence shows the opposite. Patients who receive MAT have significantly higher rates of treatment retention and long-term sobriety. The decision to use MAT is made collaboratively between you and your treatment team.
Heroin addiction is a medical disease. You deserve medical treatment. Call us now — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No judgment. Just help.
856-485-9814
Maplewood Treatment Solutions | 214 W Maple Ave, Merchantville, NJ 08109
