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6 min read New Jersey Addiction Hotline Editorial Team

New Jersey Recovery Resources: Building a Sober Life in the Garden State

New Jersey's recovery community is active and growing. Discover peer support organizations, recovery high schools, sober living homes, and resources across all 21 counties.

recoverysober livingnew jerseypeer supportaftercare

Getting through detox and completing a treatment program are significant accomplishments — but they are the beginning of recovery, not the end. Research consistently shows that long-term recovery is built on sustained community connection, peer support, and structured engagement. New Jersey has a growing and increasingly robust recovery ecosystem with resources spread across all 21 counties. Whether you are newly sober or have years of recovery and want to deepen your community, this guide is your starting point.

Why Aftercare Matters

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) identifies continuing care — what happens after formal treatment ends — as one of the most significant predictors of long-term recovery success. Without ongoing support, the risk of relapse is highest in the first months following discharge. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that relapse rates for substance use disorders are similar to those of other chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension — meaning they are expected to be part of the process, not evidence of treatment failure. But consistent aftercare dramatically reduces relapse risk and helps people build the life skills and support networks that sustain recovery.

New Jersey has recognized this, and state funding through DMHAS increasingly targets recovery support services alongside clinical treatment.

Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs)

Recovery Community Organizations are peer-led, community-based nonprofits that provide a range of recovery support services — typically including peer recovery coaching, recovery community centers, transportation assistance, employment support, and advocacy. RCOs in New Jersey include:

Integrity House: Founded in Newark in 1968, Integrity House is one of New Jersey’s oldest and most respected recovery organizations, offering long-term residential treatment and recovery support services in Essex County and beyond.

Preferred Behavioral Health Group: Operating the Recovery Community Center in Toms River and surrounding Ocean County, PBHG provides peer support, family services, and recovery housing connections.

New Jersey Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA): The GCADA funds county-level prevention and recovery support infrastructure across all 21 counties, including Regional Prevention Coalitions and recovery support programs.

Salvation Army ARC (Adult Rehabilitation Centers): Locations in Newark and other cities provide residential rehabilitation programs with recovery support.

CARES NJ: CARES (Community Access, Resources, Education, and Support) focuses on harm reduction and recovery support for people with opioid use disorder, including naloxone distribution and peer navigator programs.

Peer Recovery Support Services

Peer support — receiving help from people who have lived experience with addiction and recovery — is one of the most effective forms of recovery support. New Jersey has certified peer recovery support specialists (PRSSs) working in hospitals, treatment programs, county systems, and community organizations.

SAMHSA’s research shows that peer support significantly increases engagement with treatment, reduces substance use, improves recovery outcomes, and lowers healthcare costs. New Jersey was among the early states to formally certify peer recovery specialists and integrate them into the healthcare system.

To find peer support services:

  • Contact your county Single County Authority (SCA)
  • Call NJ211 for local peer recovery program referrals
  • Ask treatment programs about integrated peer support upon discharge

Sober Living Homes

Sober living homes — also called recovery residences — provide a substance-free living environment with peer accountability during early recovery. They are typically not clinical settings (no therapy or medical care provided on-site) but serve as safe, structured environments that bridge the gap between residential treatment and independent living.

New Jersey sober living homes vary widely in quality, structure, and cost. The New Jersey Coalition of Recovery Residences (NJ-CORR) certifies recovery residences that meet quality standards, providing assurance of a safe and recovery-supportive environment. When seeking a sober living home, look for NJ-CORR certification or ask your treatment program for vetted recommendations.

Oxford Houses: Oxford Houses are democratically self-governed recovery residences where residents collectively manage the home. There are Oxford Houses in numerous New Jersey counties, and wait lists are often shorter than for other recovery residences. Learn more at oxfordhouse.org.

Recovery High Schools

For adolescents in recovery, returning to a traditional high school environment — where substance use may be prevalent and social pressures intense — can be a significant relapse risk. New Jersey has a small number of recovery high schools that provide a supportive, sobriety-focused academic environment.

Recovery High School at Preferred Behavioral Health: Located in Toms River (Ocean County), this school serves students in recovery from substance use disorders. Similar programs may be available in other counties — contact your county SCA or local school district for current options.

12-Step and Peer Support Programs

Twelve-step programs remain among the most widely available peer support networks in New Jersey, with meetings in virtually every town:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Meetings throughout New Jersey, searchable at aa.org. Step meetings, speaker meetings, book study groups, and more.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA): NA has a robust presence in New Jersey, particularly in urban areas. Find meetings at nagreaternjarea.org for North Jersey or naregion8.org for South Jersey.

SMART Recovery: Science-based, non-12-step peer support with meetings and online options. smartrecovery.org.

Refuge Recovery: A mindfulness-based addiction recovery program with meetings in New Jersey. refugerecovery.org.

Celebrate Recovery: A faith-based 12-step-informed program available at churches throughout New Jersey. celebraterecovery.com.

Employment and Vocational Support

Securing stable employment is a critical component of sustained recovery. New Jersey’s workforce development system includes services for people in recovery:

NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS): Provides vocational counseling, job training, and employment placement assistance for people with disabilities, including substance use disorders, at no cost.

One-Stop Career Centers (NJ American Job Centers): Located in every county, these centers provide free job search assistance, resume help, skills assessment, and access to training programs.

Recovery-friendly employers: New Jersey’s Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse has worked to develop a network of recovery-friendly workplaces — employers committed to supporting employees in recovery.

Criminal justice involvement is common among people with addiction, and navigating its aftermath is often a significant recovery challenge:

Drug Courts: New Jersey’s drug court system provides an alternative to incarceration for eligible defendants, connecting participants with treatment and recovery support in lieu of prosecution.

Re-entry programs: Organizations like New Hope Foundation and others serve people coming out of incarceration with housing, employment, and recovery support.

Legal aid: Organizations like Legal Services of New Jersey and county legal aid offices may assist with expungements, housing disputes, and other legal issues affecting recovery.

Recovery Month and Community Events

Every September, New Jersey communities hold events in recognition of National Recovery Month, including rallies, walks, community celebrations, and educational events. These gatherings provide an opportunity to connect with the recovery community, find resources, and celebrate the reality that recovery is possible.

The New Jersey RECOVERS coalition advocates for people in recovery and organizes community events throughout the year.

Digital and Telehealth Resources

For residents in rural counties or those with transportation or scheduling challenges, digital recovery resources have expanded significantly:

  • SAMHSA’s online treatment locator: findtreatment.gov
  • In The Rooms: Online recovery community with virtual meetings
  • Hazelden Betty Ford: Free online recovery meetings and resources
  • Telehealth MAT providers: Many buprenorphine prescribers in New Jersey now offer telehealth appointments, making MAT accessible without transportation barriers

Ready to Get Help?

Whether you are just beginning your recovery journey or looking to strengthen your foundation after treatment, connection is the key. New Jersey’s recovery community is waiting to welcome you.

Call the New Jersey Addiction Hotline. Our specialists can connect you with the specific recovery resources — peer support, sober living, aftercare programs, and more — that make sense for where you are in your journey. Recovery is possible. You do not have to build it alone.

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