Alcohol Addiction Rehab in North Bergen, NJ

Alcohol addiction rehab in North Bergen is designed to improve the chances of making a successful recovery from alcoholism. Rehab treatment programs use a combination of therapies, counseling, and support programs that address both the physical and the psychological triggers behind compulsive drinking.

An important aspect of the alcohol addiction recovery process is recognizing that a person struggling with alcoholism can't simply stop drinking using a bit of willpower while at home. The process of drug detox in North Bergen is only the first stage of recovery, but on its own it won't do anything to treat the underlying reasons behind addictive substance abuse.

Specialized alcohol addiction treatment programs for relapse prevention in North Bergen also teach recovering addicts new coping skills to maintain sobriety over the long term. Alcohol addiction rehab in North Bergen tailors treatment programs specifically to suit each person's individual triggers to increase the chances of making a successful recovery.

What is Alcohol Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease of the brain that requires specialized treatment in order to recover. A person who drinks heavily over a long period of time is at risk of causing significant changes to the brain's chemistry.

Alcohol is a sedative that works on the central nervous system. As a person continues to drink on a regular basis, the brain begins to adapt to the presence of alcohol in the system. The result is developing tolerance, where the person may need to consume larger quantities of alcohol in order to achieve the same effects that used to require much less.

From the outside, others may observe that the affected person is able to drink large volumes of alcohol without appearing drunk. In reality, the brain has begun the process of building tolerance.

Over a period of time, the brain adapts to such a degree that it comes to rely on the presence of alcohol. It expects the continued artificial stimulation of more alcohol in order to be able to release dopamine into the body.

If the person tries to quit drinking suddenly, the brain can't adapt quickly enough, so it enters a hyper-excitable state. The result is unpleasant and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms that may require emergency medical assistance. At this point the person is considered dependent on alcohol, or addicted.

Dangers of Alcohol

Any form of alcohol abuse can cause serious health problems. Some of the more serious health conditions and complications include:

Heart damage: Drinking alcohol weakens the heart muscle so it's unable to pump blood around the body as efficiently. The condition is known as cardiomyopathy and can cause premature death through heart failure.
Brain: Alcohol interferes with the brain's normal functions and reward pathways. In heavy drinkers, the changes in the brain can change behaviors and moods drastically.
Hypertension: People who drink to excess increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Stroke: Drinking heavily over a long period of time can increase the risk of stroke significantly.
Liver damage: Alcohol abuse can increase the risk of damaging the liver. Drinking to excess can cause inflammation in the liver, steatosis (fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis of the liver.
Pancreas damage: The pancreas is stimulated to release toxic substances in an effort to metabolize alcohol. Over a period of time the pancreas can become inflamed, which interferes with the body's normal digestive process. Many people struggling with alcoholism also have a greatly increased risk of pancreatitis.
Kidney damage: The kidneys are designed to filter waste and toxins from the body. They also work to regulate blood pressure and help to normalize electrolyte levels. However, drinking too much affects the kidneys' ability to filter blood and causes dangerous inflammation and enlargement of the kidneys.
Cancer: Alcohol is a known carcinogen and dramatically increases the risk of developing multiple types of cancer, including mouth, larynx, throat, liver, colorectal, and breast cancer.
Immune system: Alcohol weakens the immune system, making a heavy drinker more susceptible to infection, illness and chronic diseases.
Malnutrition: Drinking too much interferes with the body's ability to absorb nutrients from eating food. Many recovering alcoholics are malnourished and require nutritional therapy to return to good health.
Mental health: Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can trigger symptoms of depression. It can also make depression symptoms worse in people who already have the condition.
Obesity and diabetes: Alcohol is filled with empty calories that provide no nutritional value. Alcoholic drinks are high in sugar content and contribute towards unhealthy weight gain. A high sugar diet also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

If these symptoms are becoming an issue for someone you love, do not hesitate to take action. Our trained specialists at our drug addiction rehab in North Bergen will help you stage and plan an intervention to convince them of the importance of getting clean.

Who Needs Alcohol Addiction Rehab in North Bergen?

Anyone who struggles to cut down their alcohol consumption voluntarily needs to consider alcohol addiction rehab in North Bergen. As some of the symptoms of withdrawal can be potentially life-threatening, it's important that an alcohol dependent person doesn't try to quit drinking at home without proper supervision.

It's common for people struggling with addiction to deny the severity of their problem, so they may not believe they need treatment at all. Likewise, many people also believe that an alcoholic can be somehow cured if they just exert a bit of willpower and stop drinking at home.

In reality, alcohol addiction recovery requires specialized behavioral treatment in order to address the psychological triggers behind compulsive drinking patterns. Making it through the detox process is only the first step on the journey to recovery.

Alcohol addiction treatment programs use a combination of behavioral therapies and counseling to help replace self-destructive drinking behaviors with healthy new coping skills for living a sober life without the need for alcohol. Call us today at (877) 804-1531.