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Camden Addiction Treatment & Mental Health Resources Guide
Dr. Rostislav Ignatov, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Camden faces some of the highest behavioral health needs in New Jersey. In 2023, the state recorded 2,816 unintentional overdose deaths, down from 3,171 in 2022—the first significant decline in more than a decade. Even with this progress, overdose rates remain high, and urban communities like Camden continue to be disproportionately affected.
Within Camden County, thousands of residents enter treatment annually, with Camden City accounting for a large share of admissions due to concentrated poverty, trauma exposure, and ongoing barriers to care.
To meet this need, Camden residents rely on a combination of community health centers, county psychiatric emergency screening services, peer-led programs, and school-based supports. Coverage through NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid) ensures that most residents have access to counseling, psychiatric care, crisis response, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). State policy continues to strengthen care coordination by integrating behavioral health into managed care programs.
This guide is designed to help Camden residents navigate addiction, mental health, and recovery resources, with emphasis on both community-based supports and accessible options such as The Haven Detox – New Jersey.
Treatment admissions (2023): Camden County reported 7,390 substance use disorder treatment admissions, up from 5,627 in 2022, making it one of the highest-volume counties in New Jersey. Camden City accounted for a large share of these cases, reflecting concentrated poverty, trauma exposure, and limited healthcare access.
Statewide overdose context: New Jersey recorded 2,816 overdose deaths in 2023, compared with 3,171 in 2022. While this represents the first broad decline in nearly a decade, overdose deaths remain disproportionately high in Camden and other urban areas.
A Rutgers/New Jersey State Policy Lab report found that about 42% of high school students in New Jersey reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with similar findings among middle school students.
According to Kids Count data, an estimated 10.7% of New Jersey children were reported to experience anxiety and/or depression in 2020, a significant increase from 7.6% in 2016.
The 2021 New Jersey Student Health Survey reported that approximately 11.8% of high school students statewide had attempted suicide in the past 12 months, underscoring the urgency of youth mental health intervention and prevention efforts.
Camden is supported by a combination of statewide and local behavioral health resources that provide access to addiction and mental health treatment. New Jersey has strengthened its crisis response through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the statewide Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Teams (MCORTs), which can be dispatched for in-person evaluations, de-escalation, and linkage to follow-up care for non-life-threatening behavioral health or substance use crises.
For youth, Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (CMRSS) are available in Camden County, offering on-site intervention for children and adolescents up to age 21. These services are designed to stabilize crises in the community and reduce unnecessary inpatient or residential placements.
Within Camden, residents can access local community health centers and peer-led recovery initiatives. These resources provide 24/7 psychiatric evaluations, crisis stabilization, and referral to detoxification or outpatient treatment. Walk-in access and mobile teams help reduce barriers for individuals in neighborhoods where transportation or healthcare access is limited.
The New Jersey Medicaid program, NJ FamilyCare, provides comprehensive coverage for Camden residents needing behavioral health or substance use treatment. Benefits include outpatient therapy, inpatient psychiatric care, residential rehabilitation, crisis intervention, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone. NJ Family Care also covers supportive services such as peer recovery programs, family counseling, interpreter assistance, and non-emergency medical transportation when medically necessary.
To protect timely access to care, New Jersey maintains service standards:
The NJ FamilyCare online provider directory allows Camden residents to search for in-network behavioral health providers, confirm availability of clinicians accepting new patients, and filter by services such as bilingual counseling or culturally responsive care. This helps residents navigate the system more efficiently and reduces administrative barriers to treatment.
The Haven Detox – New Jersey, located in Blackwood, NJ, offers comprehensive services for individuals across the state. The facility provides both medical detox and residential treatment in a supportive, recovery-focused environment designed for comfort and healing.
Programs at The Haven Detox combine evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, with residential amenities like recreational areas and professionally prepared meals to create a well-rounded treatment experience. To further personalize care, The Haven also offers GeneSight® genetic testing, which helps clinicians select the most effective medications for each client’s unique needs.
Camden is supported by a wide network of behavioral health resources designed to serve residents of all ages, from children to seniors. Local community health centers and county-supported Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) provide 24/7 crisis screening, stabilization, and referrals to appropriate levels of care for individuals experiencing psychiatric or substance use emergencies.
For youth, the Camden Hub of the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) initiative offers school-based prevention and intervention programs. These services include brief counseling, crisis intervention, and connections to community resources for students and families, supporting early identification and response to mental health challenges in both school and neighborhood settings.
Camden residents benefit from peer-driven recovery resources that provide long-term support and reduce relapse risk.
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) Peer Recovery WarmLine (877-292-5588) is available statewide, staffed by trained peer specialists who offer lived-experience guidance, non-clinical emotional support, and assistance navigating behavioral health and recovery services. Peer recovery programs are recognized by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) as a formal part of the treatment continuum, ensuring that individuals can request peer- and family-run support as part of their care plan.
Community-based organizations in Camden also partner with the
Camden County Department of Health and Human Services to provide peer groups, recovery coaching, life-skills training, and family-inclusive activities. These programs help individuals transition from clinical treatment into long-term community recovery networks, strengthening both social support and personal stability.
For Camden residents completing inpatient or intensive outpatient programs, sober living homes provide structured, substance-free housing that supports accountability and recovery.
Oxford Houses operate in Camden County, including within the city, where residents share household responsibilities and maintain democratically run, peer-led environments to sustain sobriety.
Additional transitional housing options are listed in directories such as the Sober House Directory and ChooseHelp, which provide information about recovery residences across Camden and surrounding communities. These homes typically require adherence to sobriety rules—such as participation in mutual-aid meetings, regular drug and alcohol testing, and involvement in work, school, or outpatient treatment. Such supportive structures help bridge the transition between formal treatment and independent living, reducing relapse risk and reinforcing long-term recovery.
Camden offers a wide range of recovery meetings that reflect the needs of its diverse population.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups meet daily throughout Camden County, including beginner sessions, open speaker meetings, and closed groups for individuals seeking a more private environment. Spanish-speaking residents have access to bilingual and culturally relevant AA meetings, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) also maintains a strong presence in Camden and nearby towns, with meetings available in English and Spanish. Online directories allow residents to filter meetings by location, format, and identity focus, such as LGBTQ+ affirming groups and bilingual meetings. These peer-led recovery networks provide ongoing accountability, mentorship, and fellowship, complementing professional treatment by supporting individuals in all stages of recovery.
When selecting a treatment program in Camden, it is important to choose one that begins with a comprehensive assessment, addressing substance use history, co-occurring mental health conditions, and available family or social support. Many programs across New Jersey incorporate dual diagnosis care, ensuring that conditions such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD are treated alongside substance use disorders.
Key features to look for include:
These elements help ensure that care in Camden is both effective and individualized, promoting long-term recovery.
In Camden, strong continuing care planning begins during treatment to ensure that supports extend beyond discharge. Effective programs typically schedule follow-up appointments, provide relapse-prevention coaching, and offer step-down levels of care such as outpatient therapy, intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), or peer recovery check-ins. These services help individuals sustain recovery momentum and stability after initial treatment.
Family engagement plays an important role in recovery. Many programs across New Jersey encourage family therapy and educational workshops to strengthen communication, establish healthy boundaries, and reduce relapse risk. When family participation is not possible or safe, peer-led groups and individualized recovery coaching serve as alternative supports. These wraparound approaches help Camden residents maintain long-term recovery while reducing gaps in care.
Camden’s behavioral health framework emphasizes recovery as both an immediate and long-term process. Aftercare planning often begins while an individual is still in treatment, with services such as relapse-prevention coaching, scheduled check-ins, and step-down options like outpatient therapy or peer recovery check-ins.
Structured recovery residences, including Oxford Houses in Camden County, provide substance-free housing with peer accountability, shared responsibilities, and support for individuals transitioning back to independent living. These homes help bridge the gap between treatment and sustained recovery.
Family engagement is also a vital part of care. Many New Jersey programs include family therapy and structured educational sessions to strengthen relationships, improve communication, and reduce relapse risk. For individuals without family involvement, peer recovery networks and community-based resources ensure individuals are not isolated in their recovery journey.
Professional treatment represents an investment in recovery success, offering immediate access, personalized care, and comprehensive services designed to address the complex nature of addiction and mental health conditions.
Immediate support and assessment services help you begin recovery without delay
Residents of Camden, NJ, can access immediate crisis intervention and placement into treatment
through public behavioral health systems and community providers.
Insurance verification in Camden is supported by NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid) and its managed care partners (Horizon NJ Health, Amerigroup, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna Better Health, and WellCare). These plans cover inpatient and outpatient behavioral health care, crisis stabilization, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). For uninsured or underinsured residents, Mercer County and nonprofit organizations provide financial assistance, sliding-scale fees, and linkage to county-funded services. Case managers and intake staff often help with benefit verification and prior authorizations to minimize delays in starting care.
Most behavioral health facilities in Camden and Mercer County provide same-day crisis assessments with individualized treatment recommendations. Intake specialists coordinate “warm handoffs” between crisis units, detox programs, and longer-term residential care or outpatient care to reduce gaps in treatment. Providers also maintain communication with families, schools, and referring physicians to support treatment engagement and continuity of care.
Most Camden-area providers schedule intake assessments within a few days, but urgent needs can be addressed the same day. Camden County Psychiatric Emergency Screening Service (PESS) provides 24/7 crisis evaluations, and some community health centers accept walk-ins. For immediate detox or residential care, The Haven Detox – New Jersey (856-677-5226) operates a 24/7 helpline to arrange confidential assessments and fast admissions.
Yes. NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey’s Medicaid program) covers counseling, psychiatric care, residential rehabilitation, crisis intervention, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Managed care partners such as Horizon NJ Health, Amerigroup, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna Better Health, and WellCare extend these benefits. Copays for behavioral health services have been eliminated, reducing financial barriers for Camden residents.
Yes. Camden offers Spanish-language AA and NA meetings, bilingual counseling at community programs, and culturally tailored peer support. The Haven Detox – New Jersey also has bilingual staff to assist with admissions and family guidance in both English and Spanish.
Yes. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Camden provide services regardless of insurance status. The NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) funds sliding-scale and grant-supported programs. For private care, The Haven Detox – New Jersey offers confidential insurance verification and guidance on payment options to make treatment accessible.
NJ Transit offers reduced fares for eligible riders, and Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) to behavioral health appointments. Some providers, including The Haven Detox – New Jersey, assist with transportation coordination so residents can safely access care.
Support is available 24/7. Residents can call or text 988 for immediate connection with trained crisis counselors. PESS provides in-person evaluation and stabilization any time of day. Families looking for immediate placement can also call The Haven Detox – New Jersey’s helpline (856-677-5226) for around-the-clock admissions support.
Yes. Families play an essential role in recovery. NAMI NJ and Al-Anon provide education, peer support, and coping strategies. At The Haven Detox – New Jersey, family communication and involvement are built into treatment planning, helping loved ones stay connected during recovery.
Integrated treatment is the standard in Camden. Local providers and statewide programs often coordinate psychiatric care and substance use treatment together, combining MAT with evidence-based therapies like CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care. The Haven Detox – New Jersey also specializes in supporting clients with dual diagnoses.
New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Substance Use Overview 2023 — Camden County. Trenton, NJ: NJ DHS; 2024. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/publications/statistical
New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Substance Use Overview 2022 — Camden County. Trenton, NJ: NJ DHS; 2023. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/publications/statistical
Rutgers NJ ACTS. Overdose deaths see a historic drop: What’s N.J. doing right? Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences; 2025. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://njacts.rbhs.rutgers.edu/news/overdose-deaths-see-a-historic-drop-whats-n-j-doing-right/
New Jersey State Policy Lab & Rutgers University. Youth Mental Health in New Jersey: Current Status and Opportunities for Improved Services. Princeton, NJ: NJSPL; 2023. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nj.gov/education/safety/wellness/mh/docs/NJSPL_YouthMentalHealth.pdf
Annie E. Casey Foundation. Kids Count Data Book: New Jersey Children and Families. Baltimore, MD: Annie E. Casey Foundation; 2022. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://acnj.org/nj-children-struggling-with-mental-health
New Jersey Department of Education & Rutgers Bloustein School. 2021 New Jersey Student Health Survey Fact Sheets. Trenton, NJ: NJ DOE; 2021. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nj.gov/education/safety/survey/2021/2021NJSHSFactSheets.pdf
New Jersey Department of Children and Families. Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (CMRSS). Trenton, NJ: NJ DCF; 2024. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nj.gov/dcf/families/csc/mobile
New Jersey Department of Children and Families. NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S). Trenton, NJ: NJ DCF; 2024. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nj.gov/dcf/nj4s
New Jersey Department of Human Services. Managed Care Contract Standards: Timeliness of Behavioral Health Services. Trenton, NJ: NJ DHS; 2023. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmhas/home/
New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Peer Recovery Support Services. Trenton, NJ: NJ DHS; accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/resources/services/recovery/peer_recovery.html
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