Blake Recovery Center Tops Newsweek’s 2023 List of Best Addiction Treatment Centers in New Jersey

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network, is pleased to announce that Newsweek Magazine has ranked Blake Recovery Center No. 1 on its new list of Best Addiction Treatment Centers in New Jersey.

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans struggle with mental illness and addiction yet many diagnosed with clinical-level conditions do not get treatment.

“Hackensack Meridian Health is deeply committed to expanding access to care and innovating treatment for the growing number of people struggling with addiction and mental illness,"" said Robert C. Garrett, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. “This recognition belongs to our extraordinary teams who continue to put patients first and help us innovate behavioral healthcare in New Jersey and beyond."

This is the third time Blake, which admitted 583 patients in 2022, has been No. 1 in the state since Newsweek published its inaugural list in 2020. (In 2022’s list, it was ranked No. 2 in New Jersey.)

“One of the top priorities of Carrier is helping people with substance use disorder overcome the disease, which devastates the lives of countless individuals who are in the throes of it, and brings anguish and desperation to their loved ones, who often are overwhelmed by the process of finding that individual proper and effective treatment,” said Trish Toole, Carrier's President and Chief Hospital Executive. “The dedicated staff at Blake takes its mission seriously, and without ever expecting accolades, works tirelessly to help people through this disease and maintain recovery. I am proud to see this team get this well-deserved national recognition again this year.”

“The combination of Hackensack Meridian’s commitment to supporting behavioral health and Carrier’s focus on delivering high quality care to individuals seeking successful recoveries again results in Newsweek rating our Blake Addiction Recovery program the No. 1 addiction treatment program in New Jersey for 2023”, said Don Parker, President of Behavioral Health Transformation for Hackensack Meridian Health. “We know how dedicated and skilled our team is and are proud that this recognition validates their work.”

"I am incredibly honored to work with a team of the most dedicated and compassionate staff at Blake Recovery Center,” said Michele Scasserra, Blake’s Director of Substance Use Counseling Services. “They go above and beyond to treat everyone with respect and dignity which truly makes a difference. Hearing patients share that they feel safe at Blake is the greatest feedback we could ever receive and this is due to the staff. I have never met such an incredible group of nurses, doctors, counselors, or technicians in my entire career."

"At Blake Recovery Center, we see people and families heal everyday,” said Rachel Wallace, Senior Director of Substance Use Counseling Services Blake Recovery Center/Retreat & Recovery At Ramapo Valley. “This honor is a testament to the compassionate care by all Blake Team Members, and the promise and hope that is awaiting patients and their families as they continue to transform in their recovery. Congratulations to the Blake Recovery Center team.”

Newsweek’s ranking system is based on a national online survey of more than 4,000 medical professionals in the addiction treatment field and data by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“Too many families face the pain of substance abuse and addiction,” wrote Newsweek’s Global Editor in Chief Nancy Cooper in the introduction to the list. “Alcoholism and drug dependency can devastate lives, leaving lasting damage/effects. In the last 20 years, the diagnosis of alcohol and drug use disorders in the U.S. has increased from 4.9 percent to 6 percent; consequently, overdose deaths are also rising. The good news is that those patients who complete a rehabilitation program are more successful in managing their illnesses.”

Newsweek’s list aims to help the public with the often daunting task of finding a treatment program, Cooper explained. Newsweek partnered with Statista to produce the Best Addiction Treatment Centers list.

Blake Recovery Center is a free-standing, state-licensed residential alcohol and substance use disorder treatment program that is located on the Carrier Clinic campus in Belle Mead. Blake opened in 1981 and has been updated to reflect recent advances in the effective treatment of individuals suffering from substance use disorder. The Blake program provides medically monitored detoxification and residential rehabilitation care for individuals suffering from drug and alcohol addiction that may include psychiatric complications.

Hackensack Meridian Health’s Carrier Clinic is the largest behavioral health facility in the State of New Jersey. Located in Somerset County, Carrier Clinic is a leader in the treatment of adolescents aged 12 and older with psychiatric, co-occurring disorders, and substance use disorder through its 36-bed inpatient acute hospital unit, intensive residential services program, residential treatment center, psychiatric community homes, and the East Mountain School.