A Family History of Drug Abuse Can Affect Susceptibility to Addiction

If addiction has occurred in your close family, you have a greater chance of becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol yourself. Underlying genetic causes can be present, even if a person doesn’t grow up in New Jersey with an addicted relative. There is never a certainty of developing addiction, but it is more probably with a family history of the disease.

Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices Can Increase the Chance of Developing Addiction

Just as a healthy diet and consistent sleep schedule can help prevent addiction, an unhealthy lifestyle with a large consumption of caffeine and nicotine can increase a person’s chances of developing a more serious addiction. A high level of stress combined with unhealthy eating and sleeping habits will eventually take its toll, and a person may find themselves turning to drugs to keep up the pace. While weaker than heroin or cocaine, nicotine works in a similar way, and using large amounts of tobacco changes the brain in the same way harder drugs do.

Serious Illness or Injury Can Increase Odds of Addiction in New Jersey

If you have had a serious injury or illness in the past that caused emotional stress, this can affect your chances of developing addiction. New Jersey residents who may have unintentionally misused painkillers after an injury may develop an addiction at the time or may seek them out recreationally later. When stress and pain due to past medical issues are not dealt with a person may turn to drugs for relief if they don’t know how else to deal. Stress can hasten the onset of health issues such as anxiety or depression that can lead to drug abuse and addiction.

History of Mental Illness or Mood Disorders Often Coincides with Addiction

Addiction often occurs in those with a history of mental illness or mood disorders. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder are difficult to deal with on their own, but these illnesses also have neurological similarities to addiction. There are similarities in the brain of an addict and a brain of someone with schizophrenia. New Jersey residents who deal with neurological disorders have a high chance of developing addiction, often due to self-treatment with drugs or alcohol.

Serious Illness May Increase the Negative Health Consequences of Addiction

People with a genetic predisposition to serious illnesses such as heart disease, epilepsy or stroke may increase their chances of developing these diseases by abusing drugs. Drugs and alcohol can have devastating effects on their own when abused, but when combined with other medical conditions the results can be even worse. Alcoholism can damage a person’s health and eventually cause diabetes or other health consequences. Cocaine increases the risk of heart attack even for healthy people, but those with a risk of heart attack are more susceptible. The physical toll that addiction takes on a person can lower the natural immune system and increase the odds of developing other illnesses.

New Jersey Residents Can Begin Recovery from Addiction Today

Medical history may make addiction worse, but it can still be treated. Call us today at our toll-free 24 hour helpline to find out about treatment options. Begin the recovery process now, we can help you achieve long-term sobriety.

How Your Friends and Family Affect Your Wellness in New Jersey

Your friends are an important part of your life. Friends and family can influence your decisions, can set the pace for your life, can impact your emotions and can aid in your recovery. However, New Jersey friends and family can also make your addiction problems worse. No man is an island, and we all are impacted by the people around us. It’s important to take a careful inventory and seek out friends and family that support your wellness. Friends and family that DO support your wellness will take the following actions:

• Encourage you in your sobriety and recovery
• Never insult you or make fun of you for your addiction or your recovery
• Never offer you drugs, alcohol or temptation
• Listen to learn more about what your addiction treatment means to you
• Love you even if they do not always approve of your past behavior
• Possibly be dealing with the emotional effects of your addiction
• Cheer you on or support you through your tough days

Friends and family that DO NOT support your recovery will behave in the following ways:

• Continue to offer you tempting substances
• Ignore or make fun of your recovery process
• Continue to use addictive substances in your presence

How Addiction Rehabilitation Works for New Jersey Residents

So how do you find a supportive environment and a way to encourage your friends to help you? Consider seeking a licensed detox and rehab program. There are a number of options available for New Jersey residents. We work with a wide network of rehab programs and professionals to help callers get real information immediately.

We can help you find a rehab center that best fits your needs. Rehab is your path to a better life, it is a way to meet new people and begin anew. You will receive professional guidance from experienced counselors who understand what you are going through. You owe it to yourself to learn more about your addiction treatment options. New Jersey addicts can get clean.

Find Addiction Recovery Support for New Jersey Residents

We offer a completely confidential and toll-free helpline for any New Jersey addict. Please call us and find out more about your treatment options for yourself or someone you love. Call us now; we are open 24 hours a day.

The Relationship between Addiction and Unemployment in New Jersey

Addiction is a large problem in the workplace. In 2009, the Hazelden Foundation reported the results of a survey of more than 1,000 workers in human resources: over two-thirds of them stated that substance abuse and addiction were among the most serious issues their companies faced. Survey respondents also reported a large number of addiction-related workplace problems. These included absenteeism, missed deadlines, increased health care costs and reduced productivity. They also noted addiction’s negative effects on interpersonal relations, trust and the company’s reputation. They should think again if New Jersey residents think they can keep their addictions from the workplace.

Although they recognize the extent of the problem, most supervisors and human resource professionals don’t feel prepared to address addiction. They cited a number of obstacles in dealing with the issue of addiction, including lack of experience, lack of information about treatment, personal discomfort and time constraints. In the face of the workplace problems that addiction can cause, it isn’t surprising if a New Jersey boss chooses to fire addicted employees.

Not only can addiction lead to unemployment, but the reverse is also true. The stress associated with being jobless can lead New Jersey residents to abuse drugs or alcohol, which can, in turn, lead to addiction. This becomes a self-perpetuating problem, and can make it difficult to get a job.

The co-existing problems of addiction and joblessness can lead to more difficulties. Addiction is always hard financially, as supporting the drug or alcohol habit saps and drains financial resources. Unemployment intensifies the problem. This can lead people to steal or to begin to sell drugs or engage in other illegal activities in order to get the money they need to maintain their addiction.

How New Jersey Residents Can Manage Unemployment and Addiction

Whether New Jersey addicts are employed or unemployed, the proper course of action is to treat the addiction as soon as possible, and then focus on employment issues. It’s normal to be concerned about the costs of rehab, but there are treatment choices for people with limited financial means. Many treatment programs offer affordable financing options that spread payments out over time. There are also government programs that help many people. Rehab is a one-time cost, after which time people can return to gainful employment. Addiction has long-term, ongoing costs that continue to mount.

Many rehab programs include vocational counseling and other job-related services as part of their offerings. There are also non-profit programs that help find employment for New Jersey residents with addiction histories. America in Recovery links job seekers and employers. For those whose addiction has gotten them in legal trouble, the National H.I.R.E Network (Helping Individuals with criminal records Reenter through Employment) can be of help.

Help with Employment and Addiction for New Jersey Residents

If you live in New Jersey and are struggling with addiction, give us a call and let us discuss treatment options with you. Our 24 hour helpline is toll free. Our knowledgeable phone counselors can answer your questions and even check any insurance coverage you may have, if you wish. Treat your addiction and reclaim your life. Call now.

What Addiction Can Do for New Jersey Residents

The question of whether an addiction defines a person can be answered by looking at some of the things addiction does and doesn’t do. Addiction does the following for New Jersey residents:

• Changes priorities. As addiction grows, use of the substance of choice increases in importance. As it does, other aspects of life are neglected.
• Affects behavior. There are physical consequences of the abuse of alcohol or drugs. Emotional effects like depression, irritability and anxiety are common and can affect behavior. There are also secondary behavioral effects. For example people may become more secretive or more defensive.
• Influences choices of social activities and peer groups. People who are addicted to a substance often feel most comfortable in groups of people who share the addiction. They may begin to associate substance use with relaxing and having a good time and avoid activities where they can’t indulge their habit.
• Impacts the fulfilling of basic needs. Addicted people tend to spend a larger and larger portion of their financial resources on their substance of choice, leaving a smaller amount for basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing.

The following are things addiction can’t do to a New Jersey resident:

• Alter a person’s essence. People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol have been enslaved by their addiction. Like someone enslaved by a kidnapper, the experience changes them in many ways, but it doesn’t alter their essential personality. When free from addiction a person’s intelligence, compassion, sense of humor, goals and dreams can all flourish again.
• Change a person’s intrinsic worth. A single human life has great value. No matter how far down addiction has taken people, a sober life is always worth fighting for.

Define Yourself without Addiction

People grow and change throughout their lives. The circumstances we encounter and the choices we make shape us, but they don’t have to define us. We can make the decision to confront an addiction and take steps to break free from its grip. If you are caught in addiction, take a step toward freedom today. By calling our toll-free helpline you can make a choice to reclaim your life in New Jersey. The call is free, and we are available 24 hours a day. We can answer your questions and check your insurance coverage, if you wish, at no cost or obligation. Define yourself as a person who recognizes your own worth and is willing to fight hard to find a better life. Call today.

Questions about Alcohol Use

Answers to the following questions can help you explore your alcohol use and determine if you are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction:

• Do you actively seek out activities where you know alcohol will be served and avoid those where it won’t be? Planning activities around the availability of alcohol is a sign of alcohol’s importance to you.
• When you face a stressful situation, is your first instinct to drink? New Jersey residents who drink to alleviate negative feelings are more likely to become addicted.
• Do you have withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, insomnia, or irritability when you don’t drink regularly?
• This is a sign of physical dependence, which is a significant part of alcoholism for most New Jersey residents.
• Do you often drink in the morning? This may be another sign of physical dependence and of drinking to avoid withdrawal.
• Are the drinks you most often consume the ones that are highest in alcohol content? This may be a sign that your preference is due to physical dependence rather than enjoyment.
• Do you have to drink more than you did in the past to achieve previous effects? This indicates tolerance, and that your body has changed in response to alcohol. It is a step on the road to addiction for many New Jersey alcoholics.
• Have others confronted you about your drinking behavior? Denial is a strong part of alcoholism. Often others will be aware of a problem before you are.
• Has drinking caused you problems at work or school? When people become addicted, often times their priorities change. Alcohol use may interfere with other responsibilities.
• Does alcohol use cause you to do things you later regret? If alcohol use causes you to get into legal trouble or otherwise behave in ways you wouldn’t when sober, it’s a sign that you’re continuing to drink despite negative consequences.
• Do you have blackouts or times when you can’t remember what you were doing while you were drinking? New Jersey alcoholics may ignore this problem, but it can indicate alcoholism.
• Have you told yourself that you’ll stop drinking or cut down the amount you drink, but have been unable to do so? If you’re unable to control the amount of alcohol you drink, it’s a clear sign that help is needed.

New Jersey Alcoholism Help

If you live in New Jersey and have developed an addiction to alcohol, we can help you regain control. Call our toll-free, 24 hour helpline and let us discuss treatment options with you. We can answer whatever questions you have, including checking your insurance coverage, if you wish. We’re available around the clock, so there’s no need to delay. Take the first step toward reclaiming your life today.

• Cravings, or having the strong need, or compulsive urge to drink alcohol.
• Loss of control. An individual no longer has the ability to refuse alcohol once he has begun drinking.
• Tolerance. When the body has become accustomed to alcohol, an individual must drink more in order to feel the original effects, or buzz, from alcohol.
• Physical dependence. When the body is actually dependent upon alcohol in order to feel “normal” or well. Without alcohol in the system, a dependent person will experience withdrawal.

If you live in New Jersey and recognize some of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, alcoholism may be at work.

What Happens to the Body during Alcoholism?

Alcohol is absorbed by the stomach and small intestine. After absorption, alcohol enters the bloodstream and is then carried or transported throughout the body. The body works quickly to remove alcohol because it sees the substance as a poison. However, the body cannot process alcohol as quickly as binge drinkers consume it. This is what causes a person to become drunk or buzzed. Over time the body becomes more acquainted to having alcohol in its system. This is how dependence develops. The body adjusts to functioning with alcohol, therefore it develops physical cravings for it. These cravings are so severe that without alcohol the body has a physical reaction called withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms may include sweating, shaking, tremors, nausea, anxiety and delirium tremens. These symptoms are intense, and in many cases, prevent New Jersey residents from quitting or even cutting back on alcohol.

What Happens to the Brain during Alcoholism?

Alcohol physiologically alters the balance in the brain. In particular, alcohol affects those chemicals responsible for rewarding the brain, such as dopamine. With time, the brain literally becomes rewired and seeks out or craves alcohol for feelings of pleasure. Without alcohol, the brain will develop psychological problems such as depression or low self-esteem. New Jersey drinkers who already have a mental illness or suffer from high stress are more vulnerable to alcoholism because their brains are already seeking the pleasurable effects that can be achieved through alcohol. It is extremely difficult for an alcoholic to quit drinking because of these psychological cravings. When a New Jersey resident’s mood and general sense of wellbeing is dependent upon alcohol, quitting can appear impossible.

How Can I End My Alcoholism?

In the long run, alcoholism causes a number of grave physical and psychological effects:

• Permanent brain damage
• Mental confusion and memory loss
• Alcohol hepatitis (inflation of the liver), and cirrhosis
• Kidney failure
• Heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke
• Damage to the stomach and intestines resulting in ulcers
• Pancreatitis
• Cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus

Proper treatment requires much more than just detox. New Jersey alcoholics must treat all aspects of their addictions in order to avoid relapse.

Alcohol Addiction Rehabilitation for New Jersey Residents

If you or someone you love in New Jersey is ready to end an addiction to alcohol, please call our toll-free helpline today. Our highly-trained rehab counselors can help you find the best and safest treatment options that suite your recovery needs. We are here 24 hours a day to provide you with the addiction services you need. Please call now.

Behavioral Effects of Alcoholism

Alcoholism does not just affect people physically; it affects their actions, thoughts and feelings as well. When people are under the influence of alcohol, their behavior becomes uncontrollable. They lose their inhibitions, take dangerous and risky decisions and act on impulse. Drinking may cause New Jersey citizens to behave and say things that they would never do or say under normal circumstances. Some alcoholics get themselves into legal or financial trouble while drinking. Unfortunately, alcoholics cannot stop drinking even when they know it is causing problems.

As alcoholism progresses people begin to act and behave on compulsion. They believe they can no longer relax, have fun or even get through the day without drinking. Alcoholism develops into something much more serious than an out-of-control, blacked out night of embarrassing fun. When alcoholism is long-term it eventually leads to mental illness like extreme anxiety and depression. Long-term alcoholics also show evidence of violence, aggression, hostility and suicide.

When Does Drinking Become a Problem for New Jersey Residents?

There are many red flags thrown on the path towards alcoholism. The problem is that many New Jersey alcoholics either ignore or deny these signs. Alcoholics no longer have control over their actions or behaviors; they will have given up complete control to the addiction. When they become reliant on alcohol to relax, relieve stress, enjoy themselves or cope, there is a problem. When a person repeatedly drinks more than he intended, there is a problem. Another way to recognize an addiction problem is the presence of withdrawal symptoms. Lastly, if people let alcohol interfere with their happiness, health, responsibilities and relationships, there is a problem. The only way for New Jersey residents to break their addiction is by getting help. If an alcoholic is in denial and will not get help on their own, it is up to their loved ones to seek out help right away. The longer alcoholism goes untreated, the harsher the consequences.

New Jersey Alcoholism Help

Alcoholism is a disease that creates puts a physical and emotional strain on not just the addict, but everyone who is involved. If you or a loved one in New Jersey is stuck in the hold of alcoholism, true and lasting recovery can be found. To discover more about successful treatment options please call our toll-free helpline today. Our experienced rehab counselors help people every day. You can call to talk to someone about your personal addiction struggle, ask questions or even take action if you’re ready! We are available 24 hours a day to help, so call now.

What Causes Alcoholism

The following are potential causes of alcoholism in New Jersey residents:

• Alcohol is a legal substance that is widely available. It is a part of our culture, and many people associate drinking with social activities. The media also glamorizes drinking or minimizes its negative effects. In some contexts, such as on many college campuses, binge drinking is considered the norm.
• The younger people are when they begin drinking, the more likely they are to develop alcohol addiction at some point. A 1999 Project MATCH study found that men reported using alcohol at an earlier age than women did and correspondingly tended to display evidence of problem drinking before their female counterparts.
• Family history is a strong risk factor for alcoholism. Children of alcoholic parents are more likely to become alcoholics themselves. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that children of alcoholics are about four times more likely than others to develop alcoholism themselves, even if they are not raised in the same home. Various studies support the conclusion that the association is biological rather than simply environmental.
• Alcoholism is associated with various mental health disorders. Those New Jersey citizens with anxiety or depression may use alcohol to self-medicate their symptoms. Mental health conditions can be both the genesis for and the result of alcohol abuse.

How Alcohol Changes the Brain

Any New Jersey resident can become addicted to alcohol. This is because alcohol changes the brains of regular drinkers. These changes, and the body’s reactions to them, tend to lead first to tolerance (a need to drink in higher amounts in order to achieve desired effects), then to dependence and addiction.

When people become physically dependent on alcohol, they experience withdrawal symptoms when they haven’t had a drink for a while. Drinking again relieves the withdrawal symptoms and sets up a cycle of abuse. It isn’t only the physical symptoms that may contribute to the cycle. Sometimes drinking too much leads to shame or embarrassment which some New Jersey residents also self-treat with more alcohol.

New Jersey Residents Can Overcome Alcohol Addiction

A good rehab program can help any New Jersey resident overcome alcohol addiction. If you are in need of a rehab program or have a loved one who is, we can assist you in finding a program that meets your needs. We can answer your questions and even check your insurance coverage to help you determine your options. Our number is toll free, and we are available 24 hours a day, so there’s no need to put it off. Call now and let us help you find your path to wellness and hope.

Depression and Alcoholism in New Jersey Residents

Sometimes New Jersey residents do not know if they drink because they’re depressed, or if they are depressed because they drink. Nearly one-third of people with serious depression have a co-occurring alcohol abuse problem, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In many instances, depression is the catalyst of an alcohol abuse problem. Research has shown that children and teens who are depressed are more vulnerable to develop alcohol problems later on. Depression is said to trigger alcoholic behavior, especially in the form of self-medication. New Jersey residents coping with depression may turn to alcohol in order to produce some sort of emotion. Studies also indicate that alcohol abuse can increase the risk for depression. Because alcohol is a depressant, the continual ingestion has an impact on the brains dopamine levels. Persistent alcohol use can lead to the multiplication of sedative effects, ultimately resulting in periods of depression. Alcohol abuse can also cause relationship, financial and legal problems that trigger depression.

Symptoms of Depression for New Jersey Residents

Depression cannot be described as sadness from a bad day or even a bad week. People who suffer from depression describe it as feeling empty, lifeless, hopeless or restless each and every day. The following symptoms of depression can be seen as warning signs that a New Jersey citizen needs help:

• Feelings of hopelessness or powerless
• Insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping)
• Change in appetite or weight (loss or gain)
• Overconsumption of alcohol
• Reckless behavior
• Fatigue and loss of energy
• Disinterest in daily activities
• Irritability and restlessness
• Lack of self-esteem replaced with self-loathing or self-hatred
• Abnormal and unexplained aches and pains
• Suicidal thoughts

Symptoms of a Personality Disorder

One of the most common mental illnesses associated with alcoholism is personality disorders. There are several personality disorders and while each has its own unique symptoms, the most common are symptoms are as follows:

• Social isolation
• Lying and other suspicious behaviors
• Frequent mood swings
• Angry, even hostile, outbursts
• The need for instant gratification
• Lack of impulse control
• Alcohol or drug abuse

Help for New Jersey Residents Struggling with Alcohol and Mental Health Issues

If you live in New Jersey and believe your alcoholism may be influenced by, or is influencing, a mental health issue, you may be in need of specialized treatment. Only through integrated treatment will you be able to relieve yourself from the pain caused by both alcoholism and a mental illness. Call our toll-free number today to discuss your treatment options with one of our highly-trained rehab counselors. We are here 24 hours a day to help New Jersey residents find recovery programs. Don’t deny yourself the treatment you deserve, call today.

Alcohol addiction recovery lasts for the rest of your life, no matter how far you feel from the days when drinking was a part of your life and no matter how in-control you feel now. Just one drink can be enough to drag you back down into addiction. It is possible to enjoy a social event, even one where people are drinking, without drinking alcohol.

Lifelong Alcohol Addiction Recovery for New Jersey Residents

You can recover from alcohol addiction, and many New Jersey residents have done just that. However, even after treatment, a recovering alcoholic can’t treat alcohol the way other people do. Moderation is not an option and even one drink can cause a person to fall back into a struggle with addiction.

Alcohol Addiction Relapse Triggers

Relapse triggers are situations, circumstances or events that can result in a recovering alcoholic using alcohol again. These triggers vary from person to person, but there are some general triggers that tend to effect people struggling to stay sober. These triggers often include places, people and negative emotions.

For many New Jersey residents certain places will always be associated with drinking. There can be many places that act as triggers. For some it might be sporting events that were never attended sober in the past. Watching baseball or football can become a difficult situation because of these associations. Leaving alcohol behind can also mean abandoning certain friendshipsthat revolved around drinking. Just being around someone who reminds you of your drinking days can trigger a relapse. Another common relapse trigger is “H.A.L.T,” which stands for hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Allowing yourself to get too deep into any of these states can trigger relapse.

Through therapy and counseling you can identify these triggers and learn how to avoidthem. You will inevitably end up in situations where alcohol is present, but the strategies you learn in rehab can prepare you for these situations so that you can safely navigate them without relapse.

Get Help and Stay Sober

If you are struggling with alcoholism or are in recovery, we want to help you achieve and maintain sobriety. Rehab, treatment and continued therapy will help you stay sober and avoid relapse. Call our toll-free 24hour helpline to speak with a trained addiction counselor who can answer your questions and give you more information about sobriety help. You can enjoy life in New Jersey without alcohol, and we can help. Call today.