Alcohol Addiction in Perth Amboy, NJ
Alcohol addiction in Perth Amboy is defined as the inability to stop using alcohol even when use has negative consequences.
According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. One in every 12 adults, which is about 17.6 million people, suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence. While most people think that alcohol addiction is based on how much one drinks or how frequently one consumes alcohol, the truth is that alcohol addiction or alcoholism is based on an inability to stop drinking.
It may seem counterintuitive, but it is possible (and common) to abuse alcohol without having an alcohol addiction. One can abuse alcohol by binge drinking, consuming too much alcohol, or by consuming alcohol too frequently. These factors alone, however, do not amount to alcoholism. Alcohol addiction is characterized by an uncontrollable need for alcohol and an inability to stop drinking no matter how hard one tries. The craving for alcohol in alcohol addiction is sometimes compared to the need for food or water.
The Dangers of Alcohol
Because alcohol is so ubiquitous, the harm that it can do is sometimes disregarded. The truth is that alcohol abuse is the fourth leading cause of preventable death in the nation. Alcohol abuse claims the lives of 88,000 individuals annually. These factors put the dangers of alcohol abuse well ahead of the dangers posed by drugs like heroin and cocaine.
While it is true that small quantities of alcohol can provide health benefits, binge drinking and excessive intake of alcohol can lead to many serious health conditions including:
- Heart disease (high blood pressure and arrhythmias)
- Stroke
- Liver damage and eventual failure
- Pancreatitis (a dangerous and painful inflammation of the pancreas)
- Cancer (particularly mouth and throat cancer)
- Immune suppression
- Damage to the central nervous system and increased risk of dementia
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that 31% of all fatal car accidents are the result of alcohol impaired driving. Alcohol misuse costs the United States nearly $250 billion annually.
Alcohol Treatment Options
While some individuals can overcome alcohol addiction without professional alcohol addiction recovery, most people require medical and psychological drug intervention in Perth Amboy from an expert. Such interventions can be carried out in two basic ways: outpatient or inpatient treatment. Alcohol addiction in Perth Amboy is treated primarily via inpatient therapy.
Outpatient alcohol addiction treatment allows individuals to maintain work schedules and their home life while undergoing treatment. While this option is available to everyone, it is only effective for a small portion of individuals who are highly committed and have the resources to implement an effective writing program on their own.
Inpatient alcohol addiction treatment involves admission to a treatment facility were patients and all of their time focusing on recovering from addiction, identifying triggers, and developing strategies for coping once they are discharged. Inpatient treatment for alcohol and drug addiction has been demonstrated to be the most effective in the short term as well as for long-term sobriety.
Why Enter Alcohol Addiction Rehab?
Alcohol addiction is a complex, chronic disease that share similarities with many other chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. Entering our inpatient rehab in Perth Amboy is designed exclusively to treat alcohol addiction provides individuals with the best opportunity to learn about their condition and to overcome it. Treating alcoholism requires a combination of medical intervention and behavioral modification.
Besides the fact that overcoming addiction on one's own is difficult, going through alcohol detox or withdrawal without the supervision of trained medical professionals can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Alcohol withdrawal can cause a number of symptoms that range in severity from shaking to high blood pressure to seizures and even death.
Despite the risks of undergoing alcohol or drug withdrawal in Perth Amboy outside of medical supervision and the benefits of inpatient alcohol addiction recovery, many people are unwilling to pursue inpatient treatment.
There are a number of reasons that people will avoid inpatient alcohol rehabilitation including denial that they have a problem, fear of losing their job, fear of damage to the reputation, or simply because they are ready to give up their addiction yet.
Our professional, compassionate staff skilled in the treatment of alcohol addiction in Perth Amboy can help to assuage fears about entering inpatient treatment and explain how the process can be beneficial, affordable, and life altering. Call us today at (877) 804-1531.