Vivitrol Treatment (MAT) in Tinton Falls, NJ

What is Vivitrol?

Vivitrol is the extended-release injectable form of naltrexone, an FDA-approved medication used to treat both opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. It is administered as a single intramuscular injection once a month, which means there are no daily pills to remember and no take-home medication to misplace or misuse. At Archangel Behavioral Health, Vivitrol is a key option within our Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program.

Unlike Suboxone, Vivitrol contains no opioid whatsoever. Naltrexone is a pure opioid antagonist, meaning it binds to and blocks opioid receptors in the brain. Because it is non-addictive and produces no high, Vivitrol appeals to clients and families who want a recovery medication with zero opioid component.

How Vivitrol works

Vivitrol works by physically blocking the brain's opioid receptors for about a month at a time. If a client uses an opioid while Vivitrol is active, they feel little or no effect, which removes the reward that drives relapse. For alcohol, naltrexone reduces the pleasurable reinforcement of drinking and dampens cravings.

• Blocks the euphoric effects of opioids, so relapse provides no high
• Reduces cravings for both opioids and alcohol
• Contains no opioid and is non-addictive, with no withdrawal when stopped
• Requires only one injection per month, removing daily adherence pressure
• Cannot be diverted or misused like a take-home medication

The critical requirement: full detox first

The most important clinical fact about Vivitrol is that a client must be fully detoxed from all opioids, typically seven to ten days, before the first injection. Because naltrexone is a pure opioid blocker, giving it to someone with opioids still in their system can trigger sudden, severe precipitated withdrawal. This makes a properly timed detox an absolute prerequisite.

Archangel manages this carefully. We coordinate medically supervised detox placement with licensed New Jersey partners and confirm a client is opioid-free before the first Vivitrol dose. This sequencing is one of the main reasons Vivitrol should only be started under professional supervision, never on one's own.

Vivitrol vs. Suboxone: which is right for you?

Both Vivitrol and Suboxone are effective, evidence-based MAT options, but they suit different situations. The choice is always made through a clinical assessment with our medical team, and the right answer depends on each client's history, goals, and readiness.

• Vivitrol contains no opioid and is non-addictive; Suboxone contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid
• Vivitrol requires full detox first; Suboxone can be started during early withdrawal
• Vivitrol is a monthly injection; Suboxone is taken daily
• Vivitrol also treats alcohol use disorder; Suboxone treats opioids only
• Vivitrol blocks opioid effects entirely; Suboxone occupies receptors to relieve cravings
• Clients who value a fully opioid-free medication often prefer Vivitrol

Vivitrol within Archangel's programs

Like all MAT at Archangel, Vivitrol is never a standalone prescription. The injection removes the physical pull of opioids or alcohol, and the surrounding therapy does the work of building durable recovery. Vivitrol is integrated into whichever level of care matches the client's needs.

• Medically supervised detox placement to ensure the client is opioid-free before induction
• Monthly Vivitrol injections administered and monitored by our medical team
• Integration with Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
• Individual and group therapy using CBT, DBT, and relapse-prevention approaches
• Dual diagnosis care for co-occurring mental health conditions
• Ongoing reassessment to decide when, or whether, to discontinue the medication

Does insurance cover Vivitrol treatment in New Jersey?

Under the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, carriers such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Horizon NJ Health must cover substance use treatment, including MAT, on par with medical care. Vivitrol injections combined with PHP or IOP are billable under most PPO and many HMO plans, and New Jersey FamilyCare covers medically necessary MAT for qualifying residents.

Our admissions team verifies your benefits for free, usually within minutes, and handles prior authorization at no cost. Most clients begin treatment the same week their coverage is confirmed.