I was there forget what year, the place was ok to me, I went there with nothing left 90 days later with 2 big bags of new clothes, cosmetics, ID, etc. Mr. B was the best! If you go there don't sweat the small shit way better then being in the streets.
About Straight & Narrow
Straight & Narrow is a CARF-accredited addiction treatment center in Paterson, New Jersey, providing men’s rehab programs across a full continuum of care since 1954. Operated by Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson, the facility serves adult and young adult men navigating alcohol use disorder, opioid addiction, and co-occurring mental health conditions. New Jersey recorded 1,312 suspected overdose deaths in 2025, a 27% decline from the prior year, but communities across Passaic County continue to face significant need for accessible, structured treatment.
Medical Detox and Residential Treatment
Straight & Narrow provides Level 3.7 medically monitored detoxification, staffed by medical and nursing professionals around the clock. Clients whose withdrawal requires intensive medical oversight can stabilize safely before transitioning into residential inpatient care. The residential program offers 24-hour clinical supervision, structured daily programming, and housing on-site, giving men the environment to focus fully on early recovery.
Medication-assisted treatment is available to reduce cravings and manage withdrawal more comfortably, and may lower the risk of relapse during the critical early stage. The program’s medical director, Hayman Rambaran, MD, FASAM, oversees clinical care.
Outpatient, Re-Entry, and Aftercare Services
For men who have completed inpatient care or who need structured support while living at home, Straight & Narrow offers intensive outpatient and standard outpatient counseling. Clinical services include individual therapy, group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, motivational interviewing, family counseling, and life skills training. The program also serves justice-involved individuals seeking a stable recovery foundation with dedicated re-entry support.
Aftercare and continuing care services help men maintain progress after primary treatment ends, with access to sober living, ongoing counseling, and recovery support resources in addiction treatment in Paterson.
Getting Started at Straight & Narrow
Straight & Narrow accepts Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and military coverage, and offers sliding scale payment assistance and financial aid for those who qualify. The facility is located at 508 Straight Street in Paterson, New Jersey, and is state-licensed by New Jersey, CARF-accredited, and listed with SAMHSA.
Edited by:
Patti Croft, MBA
Latest Reviews
I can't for the life in me understand why the state of New Jersey Recovery Court see this institution as being fully qualified and reputable. Do they NOT see any of these reviews. This place is terrible and highly incompetent. They are not capable of knowing the first thing about Recovery. The state prison system is run better than Straight & Narrow in respect to treating people under their custody. The struggle to repair all of the wrong doings there has just begun. They have challenged the right person to make changes. No threats just looking for justice of the clients well being. Stay tuned! Update: Found a reputable news team to help. Thank God the truth will be known 🙏.
Steven lamancusa
Reviewed on 10/09/2025
I was there forget what year, the place was ok to me, I went there with nothing left 90 days later with 2 big bags of new clothes, cosmetics, ID, etc. Mr. B was the best! If you go there don't sweat the small shit way better then being in the streets.
N 1991 I was in the juvenile program for 14 months , we had to stand and pick foam into a barrel all day without talking
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Other Forms of Payment
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.
Sliding scale payments are based on a client's income and family size. The goal is to make treatment affordable to everyone. By taking these factors into account, addiction recovery care providers help ensure that your treatment does not become a financial burden to you or your family, eliminating one barrier to care.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Military members, veterans, and eligible dependents have access to specific insurance programs that help them get the care they need. TRICARE and VA insurance can help you access low cost or no cost addiction and mental health treatment. Programs that accept military insurance often have targeted treatment focused on the unique challenges military members, veterans, and their families face.
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Outpatient programs are for those seeking mental rehab or drug rehab, but who also stay at home every night. Outpatient services are available to any adult who is trying to maintain sobriety or who is seeking an assessment and/or treatment for a substance abuse addiction. Clients may be self-referred, referred by another social services agency, the criminal justice system or by an Intoxicated Drivers Resource Center.
Clients often enter inpatient rehab following detox, but they may also enroll during early recovery or at an increased risk of relapse. Inpatient rehabs provide housing, meals, and intensive clinical supervision, allowing clients to focus exclusively on their recovery in a highly structured and supportive environment. Clients typically receive multiple individual, group, and/or family therapy sessions weekly. Many programs also offer extensive addiction education and recovery-focused life skills training. Integrative inpatient rehabs provide holistic therapies as well.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) are for those who want or need a very structured treatment program but who also wish to live at home and continue with certain responsibilities (such as work or school). IOP substance abuse treatment programs vary in duration and intensity, and certain outpatient rehab centers will offer individualized treatment programs.
Clients in a rehab aftercare program have typically completed detox and intensive inpatient and are medically stable. These programs are designed to address addiction recovery as a life-long process. Outpatient counseling and recovery education are typically categorized as drug rehab aftercare, but many clients continue to receive support after being discharged from formal outpatient treatment. Case managers and recovery teams facilitate clients' access to peer coaching, career counseling, 12 step program induction, and related services.
12-step programs are addiction recovery models based on Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A number of substance abuse programs (including some drug and alcohol rehab centers) use the 12 steps as a basis for treatment. Beginning steps involve admitting powerlessness over the addiction and creating a spiritual basis for recovery. Middle steps including making direct amends to those who've been hurt by the addiction, and the final step is to assist others in addiction recovery in the same way. 12-Step offshoots including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).
Sober Living Houses (SLHs), aka sober homes or halfway houses, are safe, substance-free, supportive living facilities for those recovering from substance abuse. Ideal for those who've just been through inpatient or outpatient treatment, SLHs are supervised environments with rules that support sobriety, such as curfews, shared chores, and therapeutic meetings. Residents are also often trained on life skills and coping skills to make it easier to transition into society. SLHs also provide a strong sense of community that can lead to the kind of deep and lasting connections with other sober individuals that supports a new, healthy lifestyle.
At certain points in the recovery process, it's important to have support available 24/7. 24-hour clinical care offers a safe environment in which to recover from drug or alcohol addiction in peace, knowing medical detox and other treatment will happen with professionals on hand.
Medically Monitored Inpatient Withdrawal Management Level 3.7WM (Detox)- organized service delivered by medical and nursing professionals, which provides 24-hr medically supervised evaluation to consumers whose withdrawal signs and symptoms are sufficient severe to require 24-hour medical monitoring.
Treatments
The goal of treatment for alcoholism is abstinence. Those with poor social support, poor motivation, or psychiatric disorders tend to relapse within a few years of treatment. For these people, success is measured by longer periods of abstinence, reduced use of alcohol, better health, and improved social functioning. Recovery and Maintenance are usually based on 12 step programs and AA meetings.
Drug rehab in New Jersey is the process of addressing the complex issues involved with addiction. Challenges are identified and addressed through individual and group counseling. Participants learn how to manage these issues without the use of substances.
Many of those suffering from addiction also suffer from mental or emotional illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety disorders. Rehab and other substance abuse facilities treating those with a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder administer psychiatric treatment to address the person's mental health issue in addition to drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Opioid rehabs specialize in supporting those recovering from opioid addiction. They treat those suffering from addiction to illegal opioids like heroin, as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone. These centers typically combine both physical as well as mental and emotional support to help stop addiction. Physical support often includes medical detox and subsequent medical support (including medication), and mental support includes in-depth therapy to address the underlying causes of addiction.
Substance rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from substance abuse, including alcohol and drug addiction (both illegal and prescription drugs). They often include the opportunity to engage in both individual as well as group therapy.
Programs
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
Recovery is most successful when clients feel accepted and validated by their peers and treatment providers. Facilities that offer LGBTQ-inclusive programming are committed to creating a safe space where everyone can grow and recover without fear of judgment or discrimination. They will have dedicated policies in place to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters free expression.
Clinical Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a clinical approach to helping people with substance abuse issues and other conditions shift behavior in positive ways. It is more goal-oriented than traditional psychotherapy, as MI counselors directly attempt to get clients to consider making behavioral change (rather than wait for them to come to conclusions themselves). Its primary purpose is to resolve ambivalence and help clients become able to make healthy choices freely.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Life skills trainings involve all the skills a person must have in order to function successfully in the world. These include time management, career guidance, money management, and effective communication. Truly successful addiction recovery is based on the ability to not only live substance-free, but to thrive. Life skills teaches the practical necessities of functioning in society, which sets clients up for success in life, and therefore sobriety.
Recreational therapy is a dynamic approach to addiction treatment in New Jersey. It integrates activities like music therapy, team sports, and gardening so you have a therapeutic outlet for your emotions and stress. This improves your physical and mental health and helps you develop new skills to support a sober lifestyle.
Amenities
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Residential Setting -
Private Rooms
Staff & Accreditations
Staff
Scott Milliken, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Reina Rivas, LCSW, LCADC, SHRM-CP
Director of Human Resources
Hazel Yaptangco, MBA
Development Director
Hayman Rambaran, MD, FASAM
Medical Director
Angela Nikolovski, MS, LPC
Executive Director, Straight and Narrow
Accreditations
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1992 by congress, SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on American's communities.
SAMHSA Listed: Yes
The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization that specifically accredits rehab organizations. Founded in 1966, CARF's, mission is to help service providers like rehab facilities maintain high standards of care.
CARF Accreditation: Yes
State Licenses are permits issued by government agencies that allow rehab organizations to conduct business legally within a certain geographical area. Typically, the kind of program a rehab facility offers, along with its physical location, determines which licenses are required to operate legally.
State License: New Jersey
Contact Information
508 Straight Street
Paterson, NJ 07501
Get Help Now - 973-969-2144
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