ABOUT STRAIGHT & NARROW, INC.
Straight & Narrow (S&N) was founded in 1954 by Catholic Charities in Paterson, N.J. Today, S&N operates an inpatient detoxification facility, men’s and women’s long-term residential addiction treatment programs, and outpatient programs, including impaired drivers education and a methadone clinic.
Treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders is available. Additional community support is provided via childcare centers, religious services for multiple faiths, and supportive housing and care for individuals living with AIDS/HIV.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
The process of admission to a Straight & Narrow program begins with either a referral from another provider or an in-person, phone, or online video interview. S&N clients are typically involved in another state or federal social service or court program simultaneously with addiction rehab. Long-term residential programs last up to a year.
As part of the facility’s detox and methadone programs, clients receive psychiatric and medical evaluations and participate in counseling and education. Among the treatment modalities used for residential and intensive outpatient programming (IOP) are the Matrix Model, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed Seeking Safety. Straight & Narrow, Inc. is among the 22.6 percent of New Jersey facilities to provide methadone maintenance programs.
Treatment, according to this facility’s website, is strengths-based, non-judgmental, and specialized for various client groups and individuals. These include gender-specific programming and treatment tailored for clients in early recovery or experiencing relapse.
Straight & Narrow also provides integrated pastoral care, which involves guidance, bible study, and creative expression, such as choir participation. Residential clients have access to vocational training and assistance in meeting legal requirements.
Outpatient intoxicated driver education is available in 12- and 24-hour programs. The agency’s halfway house for men, O’Connor Hall, is an official drug court program.
Clients at all levels of care are encouraged to participate in 12-step or other self-help groups, and Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held at most. S&N also participates in a mobile app that supports recovery.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
Straight & Narrow Inc. employs doctorate- and master’s level clinicians. Several are multilingual.
ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES
According to the agency’s website, Straight & Narrow operates eight Paterson locations, two in Passaic, one in Paramus, and one in Secaucus. The detox facility is a 26-bed unit, and O’Connor Hall has space for 50 men. There are three residential sites for women, including one for pregnant women and new mothers.
Website and Facebook photographs show simply furnished meeting spaces and community gardens. A weekly mass is held for residential clients. The S&N website also notes plans to extend holistic offerings including yoga.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
Feedback for Straight & Narrow at the time of this writing was mixed, with strong trends toward reporting success in recovery but criticizing the facility’s cleanliness and staff professionalism. The two alumni Best-rehabs.com has polled to date rated treatment effectiveness four and five out of five stars and cleanliness and maintenance with two stars apiece.
Metrics measuring general accommodations, the staff’s level of training and experience, and exercise and leisure activities all indicated moderate satisfaction. “My experience while in Long term treatment had its ups, downs and some flaws with the Program overall,” alum Linda wrote.
On Google, 21 individuals contributed to an average rating of 3.1 out of five stars for Straight & Narrow. About 25 percent each reported issues with dirty living and childcare conditions and complaints of staff’s rudeness or lack of appropriate training. Two alumni complained of not enough supervision for children or adults.[1]
WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY
Loved ones tended to provide similar feedback for this facility. The sole family member polled by Best-rehabs.com to date rated their likelihood to recommend the program to others three stars and treatment effectiveness just two. They also gave two stars for cleanliness and staff experience, and reported a lack of professionalism. However, counseling options, family participation, and dual diagnosis treatment all received four or five stars.
Two Google reviews by family members followed trends, criticizing rudeness, unsupervised situations, a dirty setting, and poor communication.
WHAT STAFF SAY
An equal number of former and current employees gave Straight & Narrow high and low ratings on Indeed, with 27 contributing to a 2.7 out of five-star rating. Positive comments focused on the help that staff provided to clients. Negative reviews cited disorganization, understaffing, and insufficient attention to treatment. “Too much free time” for clients, one staffer wrote, echoing alumni and family reviews.[3]
FINANCING
Straight & Narrow treatment is offered free of charge to individuals who qualify for available funding, according to the facility’s website.
CONCLUSION
In April 2018, a former Straight & Narrow residential staff member was charged with sexual assault against a client in a 2016 incident, according to The Paterson Times.
[1]GoogleReviews
[2]https://citehealth.com/rehab-centers/new-jersey/cities/paterson/straight-narrow-inc-based-at-508-straight-street#reviews
[3]https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Straight-and-Narrow/reviews
[4]https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Straight-And-Narrow-Paterson-Reviews-EIIE289551.0,19IL.20,28_IC1126933.htm