Straight & Narrow, Inc.

Recovery Brands, LLC

📍 508 Straight Street, Paterson, NJ 07501

📞 9733456000 Full profile & reviews Claim this listing

3.5 ★★★★☆ Historical rating · 3 reviews via Recovery Brands
Rating based on 3 reviews collected on rehabs.com and recovery.org through 2023. TopRatedRehabs licensed this rating data; we did not collect these reviews and do not republish their text. New reviews are collected and verified directly on TopRatedRehabs. Review policy →

Services & Treatment

Editorial Review

<p><strong>ABOUT STRAIGHT & NARROW, INC.</strong></p> <p>Straight &amp; Narrow (S&amp;N) was founded in 1954 by Catholic Charities in Paterson, N.J. Today, S&amp;N operates an inpatient detoxification facility, <strong>men’s and women’s long-term residential addiction treatment programs</strong>, and outpatient programs, including impaired drivers education and a methadone clinic. </p> <p><a href="https://www.recovery.org/topics/dual-diagnosis-recovery/" target="_blank">Treatment for co-occurring</a> 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.</p> <p><strong>TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT</strong></p> <p>The process of admission to a Straight &amp; Narrow program begins with either a referral from another provider or an <strong>in-person, phone, or online video interview</strong>. S&amp;N clients are typically involved in another state or federal social service or court program simultaneously with addiction rehab. <strong>Long-term residential programs last up to a year</strong>.</p> <p>As part of the facility’s detox and methadone programs, clients receive <strong>psychiatric and medical evaluations and participate in counseling and education</strong>. Among the treatment modalities used for residential and intensive outpatient programming (IOP) are the <a href="https://www.recovery.org/topics/matrix-model-for-addiction-treatment/" target="_blank">Matrix Model</a>, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed <a href="(http://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/seeking-safety-an-evidence-based-model-to-address-trauma-and-addiction-together/" target="_blank">Seeking Safety</a>. Straight &amp; Narrow, Inc. is among the <a href="https://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/state_data/NJ16.pdf" target="_blank">22.6 percent of New Jersey facilities</a> to provide methadone maintenance programs. </p> <p>Treatment, according to this facility’s website, is <strong>strengths-based, non-judgmental</strong>, and specialized for various client groups and individuals. These include <strong>gender-specific programming</strong> and treatment tailored for clients in early recovery or experiencing relapse. </p> <p>Straight &amp; Narrow also provides <strong>integrated pastoral care</strong>, 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. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>Clients at all levels of care are encouraged to participate in <strong>12-step or other self-help groups</strong>, and Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held at most. S&amp;N also participates in a <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/604085/treating-addiction-with-an-app/" target="_blank">mobile app</a> that supports recovery.</p> <p><strong>STAFF CREDENTIALS</strong></p> <p>Straight &amp; Narrow Inc. employs doctorate- and master’s level clinicians. Several are multilingual.</p> <p><strong>ACCOMMODATIONS & AMENITIES</strong></p> <p>According to the agency’s website, Straight &amp; Narrow operates eight Paterson locations, two in Passaic, one in Paramus, and one in Secaucus. The <strong>detox facility is a 26-bed unit</strong>, and O’Connor Hall has space for 50 men. There are <strong>three residential sites for women</strong>, including one for pregnant women and new mothers. </p> <p>Website and Facebook photographs show simply furnished meeting spaces and community gardens. A weekly mass is held for residential clients. The S&amp;N website also notes plans to extend <a href="https://www.recovery.org/forums/discussion/7265/what-is-holistic-treatment-and-how-can-it-help" target="_blank">holistic offerings</a> including yoga.</p> <p><strong>WHAT ALUMNI SAY</strong></p> <p><strong>Feedback for Straight & Narrow at the time of this writing was mixed</strong>, with strong trends toward reporting success in recovery but criticizing the facility’s cleanliness and staff professionalism. The two alumni Rehabs.com has polled to date rated treatment effectiveness four and five out of five stars and cleanliness and maintenance with two stars apiece. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>On Google, 21 individuals contributed to an average rating of <strong>3.1 out of five stars</strong> for Straight &amp; 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.<small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a></small> Nevertheless, nearly as <strong>many alumni noted that the treatment worked</strong>. In a representative review, B.G. wrote: </p> <p>CiteHealth had three ratings of just one out of five stars apiece for S&amp;N, with reviews describing a dirty, unsupervised, and unhelpful facility.<small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a></small></p> <p><strong>WHAT FRIENDS & FAMILY SAY</strong></p> <p>Loved ones tended to provide similar feedback for this facility. The sole family member polled by 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.</p> <p>Two Google reviews by family members followed trends, criticizing rudeness, <strong>unsupervised situations</strong>, a dirty setting, and poor communication.</p> <p><strong>WHAT STAFF SAY</strong></p> <p>An equal number of former and current employees gave Straight &amp; Narrow high and low ratings on Indeed, with 27 contributing to a 2.7 out of five-star rating. <strong>Positive comments focused on the help that staff provided to clients.</strong> Negative reviews cited disorganization, understaffing, and insufficient attention to treatment. “Too much free time” for clients, one staffer wrote, echoing alumni and family reviews.<small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-3"><sup>[3]</sup></a></small> Glassdoor reflected the same perspectives.<small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-4"><sup>[4]</sup></a></small></p> <p><strong>FINANCING</strong></p> <p>Straight &amp; Narrow treatment is offered free of charge to individuals who qualify for available funding, according to the facility’s website.</p> <p><strong>CONCLUSION</strong></p> <p>In April 2018, a former Straight &amp; Narrow residential staff member was charged with sexual assault against a client in a 2016 incident, according to <a href="http://patersontimes.com/2018/04/18/newark-man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-man-at-paterson-drug-treatment-facility/" target="_blank">The Paterson Times</a>.</p> <p><small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> <a href="https://www.google.com/search?ei=9HMEW-2NHuvv5gLR2JbYBg&q=straight+and+narrow+nj&oq=straight+and+narrow+nj&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0j0i22i30k1l9.7268.7684.0.8998.2.2.0.0.0.0.141.269.0j2.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.2.269....0.7OTpAVgLo0c#lrd=0x89c2fc2c35071755:0xd34f9ba44633e1f6,1,,," target="_blank">GoogleReviews</a></small><br /> <small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> <a href="https://citehealth.com/rehab-centers/new-jersey/cities/paterson/straight-narrow-inc-based-at-508-straight-street#reviews" target="_blank">https://citehealth.com/rehab-centers/new-jersey/cities/paterson/straight-narrow-inc-based-at-508-straight-street#reviews</a></small><br /> <small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-3"><sup>[3]</sup></a> <a href="https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Straight-and-Narrow/reviews" target="_blank">https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Straight-and-Narrow/reviews</a></small><br /> <small class="footnote"><a target="_blank" href="#footnote-4"><sup>[4]</sup></a> <a href="https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Straight-And-Narrow-Paterson-Reviews-EI_IE289551.0,19_IL.20,28_IC1126933.htm" target="_blank">https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Straight-And-Narrow-Paterson-Reviews-EI<em>IE289551.0,19</em>IL.20,28_IC1126933.htm</a></small></p>

— Rini Cobbey · 2018-06-05 12:14:58 PDT

Editorials are written by independent human writers under our editorial policy. No AI-generated editorial content.

Been here? Share your experience

Verified reviews help others find the right treatment. Your review is verified by email and moderated before publication.

Write a verified review

More rehab centers in Paterson, NJ

All Paterson rehab centers →