As devastating as opioid addiction can be, it’s still a treatable disease. Preventing overdoses and crafting a tailored treatment plan are the first steps to recovery.
Of course, taking these steps can be daunting. And we’re here to help you find the first stepping stone on the path to sobriety.
Read on for more details on the local treatment options, what to expect from rehab, and how Long Island Treatment Center can help.
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An Overview of Long Island Treatment Center’s Services
Long Island Treatment Center (LITC) is a substance abuse and addiction treatment center. Our facility is located in Hicksville, serving the local Long Island community, the Greater New York Metropolitan Area, and beyond.
LITC provides outpatient detox and treatment for many substances, including both illicit and prescription opioids.
Some of the substance addictions that our healthcare professionals treat are:
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Fentanyl
We also offer programs for addiction to opiates, like heroin and morphine.
The Opioid Crisis on Long Island
New York’s opioid crisis has been on the rise for years. The increased access to fentanyl, a cheap but potent man-made opioid, only made the problem worse.
How much worse? In 2020, the opioid-related overdose (OD) deaths in the state had increased 44% in the state versus 38% nationally.
According to the New York State data dashboard, over 5,300 opioid-related deaths were registered in 2024, along with more than 10,200 emergency department (ED) visits for opioid overdose.
The database also reveals that 5,173,709 prescriptions for opioid analgesics were written in 2024. That’s around 260 prescriptions per 1,000 residents. And 2.4% of people aged 12+ years actually reported misusing their prescription pain relievers.
Note that “misusing a prescription” in this context means using drugs to get high rather than for their intended use.
However, it can also mean taking larger doses than prescribed or taking someone else’s prescription altogether. All of which can be quite a slippery slope, considering that opioids are so addictive that even short-term use can lead to a full-blown substance use disorder.
With all that being said, we can narrow our scope to Long Island. Here are the 2024 county-level insights (per 100,000 population):
| Indicator | Kings | Queens | Nassau | Suffolk |
| Pain Medication Prescription Misuse (self-reported) | 7.9% | 8.7% | 5.7% | 5.3% |
| Deaths Involving Any Drug OD | 28.6 | 23.2 | 14.9 | 31.8 |
| Deaths Involving Opioids OD | 24.3 | 18.4 | 12.9 | 26.5 |
| ED Visits Involving Any Drug OD | 135.7 | 112.9 | 101.8 | 149.6 |
| ED Visits Involving Opioid OD | 53.2 | 34.2 | 23 | 38 |
| Patients on Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Addiction | 178.5 | 115.5 | 273.9 | 536.6 |
| Patients in a Certified Opioid Addiction Treatment Program | 355.4 | 215.8 | 174.1 | 366.5 |
As the numbers reveal, the battle against opioids is ongoing.
But there’s still hope, especially with care teams who adopt research-driven approaches.
Evidence-Based Treatments for Opioid Use Disorders
While addiction (to opioids and other substances) isn’t “curable,” it can be treated. The goal of treatment here is to return to a sober lifestyle and maintain it.
Here’s how opioid addiction disorders (OUDs) are treated:
Counseling
Counseling with a qualified clinician or health professional can be incredibly helpful for recovery. It increases patients’ motivation, challenges negative thought patterns, and develops relapse prevention skills.
Studies show that education/behavioral counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are effective psychological interventions for opioid dependency. Still, most treatment plans include a mix of one-on-one psychotherapy, group therapy, and CBT.
Medications
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) reports that counseling and behavioral therapies are effective, in and of themselves, for treating OUDs. However, they’re sometimes used alongside medications.
Certain medications can be particularly helpful in the treatment plan because they modify the brain chemistry that has been altered by opioids over time. These drugs are called medications for opioid use disorders (MOUDs).
The most commonly used MOUDs are:
- Buprenorphine: Blocks the effects of opioids to reduce symptoms and cravings.
- Methadone: Acts as an opioid to curb cravings without creating a high.
- Naltrexone: Blocks the effects of opioids and prevents euphoria.
The type of MOUD chosen depends on several factors, including the patient’s unique needs, the treatment setting, and how far the person is in their recovery.
For instance, methadone can be started at the beginning of the withdrawal. Meanwhile, opioid agonist therapy with buprenorphine is often initiated after the patient experiences mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms.
Of course, addiction medicine professionals can use combinations of MOUDs if it best serves the patient.
What to Expect on Your Healing Journey
Now that we’ve covered the two main treatment options (MOUDs and counseling), let’s take a look at how the treatment process typically goes:
How Healthcare Professionals Assess Your Opioid Issue
Your recovery starts with an assessment with a qualified clinician (think physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist). To understand the extent of your dependency, clinicians will ask questions about things like:
- Your use habit (opioid types, doses, cravings, and withdrawals).
- Familial history of addiction.
- Existing physical or mental health issues.
- The state of your social or interpersonal relationships.
- Whether your addiction is causing problems at work, school, or home.
Next, you’ll undergo a complete physical and psychological examination. Some routine drug testing might be done as well.
Finally, healthcare professionals reference all the information they’ve gathered against the DSM guidelines.
What Rehab Looks Like for Different People
Not all people in recovery will walk down the same path. After all, patients have different needs and preferences.
Based on the insights collected in the assessment phase, the treating team will determine which level of care is best for this individual.
Keep in mind that the levels of care can be classified, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, as follows:
- Level 0.5: Early Intervention
- Level 1: Outpatient treatment programs
- Level 2: Intensive outpatient program or partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Level 3: Inpatient or residential treatment
- Level 4: Intensive inpatient or residential treatment
How the Intense Withdrawals Are Managed
Because we’re talking about highly addictive substances, opioid withdrawals can be extremely uncomfortable. The symptoms can range from flushes and cramps to anxiety and insomnia.
Yet, this should never deter patients from quitting and getting sober. As long as you’re detoxing in a medically supervised facility, the process should be safer and relatively easier, thanks to withdrawal management medications.
Withdrawal management medications, like buprenorphine, methadone, lofexidine, and clonidine, can all provide symptomatic relief. For instance, clonidine can be used to reduce sweating, chills, cramps, insomnia, tremors, and other physical symptoms.
Note that hydration and nutrition can play a role in the withdrawal management, too.
Where You’ll Get Your Support
Rehab programs are supportive by nature. Patients receive support from both the on-site staff and their peers during group therapy.
However, there are other steps to be taken to reduce relapse risk.
For one, patients can join support groups, like Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Family members and friends are also encouraged to learn as much as possible about opioid addiction and the recovery process.
That’s why many providers add family counseling/education services to the aftercare plan.
We, at Long Island Treatment Center, aim to help families heal together, rebuild trust, and develop healthy communication skills.
Why Trust Long Island Treatment Center With Your Rehab Plan
Here’s why LITC’s opioid addiction treatment services stand out:
1. Our Facility Is JCI-Accredited and OASAS-Certified
LITC is a certified outpatient clinic by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), which oversees addiction treatment providers in the state.
Our center is also accredited by the Joint Commission, one of the most respected accrediting bodies for behavioral healthcare providers.
2. We Believe in Individualized Treatment
Some patients respond well to naltrexone. Others get better results with buprenorphine or methadone. Some will thrive in NA meetings, while others respond best to private, one-on-one counseling.
In short, there’s no one “right” approach to treating complex, chronic diseases like opioid dependence. Healthcare professionals have to look at the patient as a whole person and tailor the treatment plan to their needs, be it physical, mental, socioeconomic, or spiritual.
And that’s what we do at LITC. Research and individualization goals drive our programs.
3. Our People Are Experienced, Credentialed, and Compassionate
The LITC staff includes people from all walks of life. What all our team members have in common, though, is that they’re qualified and driven by a passion to help people recover.
Our therapist team includes Samantha Barone, Jamie Lastihenos, and Gwendolynn Denny.
Samantha went to Hofstra University for her Master’s of Science in Creative Arts Therapy Counseling. We appreciate the person-centered approach she brings to the team as a primary therapist.
Jamie is also a primary therapist at LITC. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from SUNY Oneonta and a Master’s of Science in Creative Arts and Expressive Therapy from Sarah Lawrence College.
As for Gwendolynn, she has been in the field of addiction treatment for 15 years. She started as an administrative assistant. Today, she’s our CASAC-T admissions therapist.
Besides all these qualified therapists, our team includes board-certified doctors in addiction medicine and licensed mental health counselors with diagnostic privileges.
4. We’re Externally Recognized
LITC has been recognized and listed by a number of reliable directories, including (but not limited to) FindTreatment.gov and Recovery.com.
You can always check reviews from our former patients for more insights. But here’s a glance into what people had to say about our center:
- “Coming to LITC has been a great and transformational experience. The people that come here and work here are all very serious and committed to getting and keeping you on the right track.”
- “For anyone looking for a drug or mental health facility, Long Island Treatment Center is where you will receive the best care.”
- “The director goes out of her way to make sure that your needs are met. The medical staff is also there for you and they are kind and considerate.”
5. We Offer Easy Integration Into a Wider Treatment Network
LITC is part of the multi-state Recreate Behavioral Health Network that offers the full continuum of care. No matter where you are in your recovery journey, our network is here to help you out.
Find Your Path to Recovery Today
While there’s no panacea for opioid dependence, recovery is still possible. Treatment relies on education, counseling, medications, and a great deal of ongoing support.
Throughout your treatment program, you have to be comfortable enough to let your provider know if anything doesn’t feel right. And this largely depends on choosing a care team that’s qualified, compassionate, and available.
At Long Island Center, we strive to equip patients and their families with all the necessary tools and resources they need to kick the opioid habit. Get in touch with us for more information.