Journey to Wholeness: Bridgeton NJ Halfway Houses for Alcohol Addiction and Mental Health Recovery

Bridgeton, New Jersey, nestled in the heart of Cumberland County, offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. With its rich agricultural heritage and diverse population, Bridgeton boasts a vibrant community spirit. Visitors can explore landmarks such as the Cumberland County Courthouse, a striking example of Federal architecture, or take a stroll through the picturesque Bridgeton City Park. However, amidst the challenges and obstacles of alcohol use disorders, there exists community assistance and healing for individuals.

About 8.78% of people in Bridgeton, New Jersey, aged 12 or older, reported heavy alcohol use in the past month. In New Jersey, 14.4% of adults reported binge drinking at least once per month. Aside from the struggle of alcohol addiction, there exists a problem with illicit drugs, which can also stem from underlying mental health issues. An estimated 14,872 people aged 12 or older use illicit drugs in Bridgeton, NJ, which represents approximately 4.38% of the population.

A solution to tackle this crisis involves the aid of halfway houses. These facilities offer temporary housing and essential support services for individuals in recovery from addiction. New Jersey halfway houses serve as a bridge between intensive inpatient treatment and independent living. They provide a structured environment with less supervision compared to rehabilitation facilities, allowing individuals to gradually reintegrate into society while implementing effective recovery plans for alcohol addiction and underlying mental health issues. While halfway houses in Bridgeton represent just one piece of the puzzle, they can be instrumental in helping people with alcohol use disorders rebuild their lives and avoid excessive use.

How does alcohol affect your mental health?

Alcohol is a depressant that can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in your brain, affecting your feelings, thoughts, and behavior. While it may initially feel like a relaxant and mood elevator, the effects are short-lived and can lead to a worsening of mental health conditions.

Studies suggest a significant link between alcohol use and mood disorders. For instance, people with bipolar disorder have a high prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) – around 42%. The harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions worldwide. Approximately 3 million deaths annually result from harmful alcohol consumption, accounting for 5.3% of all deaths.

Alcohol can have a significant impact on your mental health, both in the short term and long term. Here’s a breakdown of its effects:

• Increased anxiety and depression: Alcohol can disrupt the production of serotonin and GABA, neurotransmitters that promote feelings of well-being and relaxation. This disruption can lead to increased anxiety and depression symptoms.
• Reduced inhibition: Alcohol loosens inhibitions, which might initially make you feel relaxed and outgoing. However, this effect wears off quickly, and you might end up feeling more anxious or saying things you regret later.
• Sleep disruption: Alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, but it disrupts sleep quality. This can leave you feeling tired and foggy the next day, further impacting your mood and mental well-being.
• Exacerbating existing conditions: If you already struggle with mental health issues like depression or anxiety, alcohol can worsen those symptoms. It can also lead to self-harm or suicidal thoughts in extreme cases.
• Impaired judgment: Alcohol slows down brain function, making it harder to think clearly and process information. This can lead to poor decision-making and risky behavior.
• Increased aggression: Alcohol can lower inhibitions, making you more likely to act aggressively or impulsively.
• Cravings and dependence: Heavy alcohol use can lead to dependence, where you crave alcohol to function normally. This can create a vicious cycle where you drink to cope with negative emotions, but the alcohol itself worsens your mental health.

People with pre-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, are at an increased risk of problems when they drink alcohol. Alcohol can worsen symptoms of these conditions and make them harder to treat. Online therapists can be a great solution if you’re struggling with alcohol abuse and its impact on your mental health. Many online therapists in Bridgeton specialize in addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. They can provide therapy techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address negative thought patterns related to drinking and develop coping mechanisms.

What are the harmful effects caused by alcohol drug abuse?

Alcohol and drug abuse are serious issues that involve using substances in a way that harms yourself or others. This can take many forms, such as using them in dangerous situations (like driving under the influence) or needing to use increasingly larger amounts to get the same effect. There’s a key difference between abuse and dependence. Abuse happens when you use substances and experience negative consequences, but you can still somewhat control your use. Dependence, however, means you’re unable to control your substance use despite knowing the harm it causes.

Short-term effects:

• Impaired coordination and judgment, which can lead to accidents, injuries, and violence.
• Alcohol poisoning, a life-threatening condition that can cause seizures, coma, and even death.
• Risky behavior, which can lead to unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.

Alcohol abuse can have a wide range of harmful effects on a person’s health, both physically and mentally. Here are some of the harmful effects:

• Brain:

• • • Alcohol interferes with communication pathways in the brain.
    • It can affect mood, behavior, and cognitive function.
    • Impaired judgment, slurred speech, drowsiness, and dizziness are common short-term effects.
    • Long-term alcohol use can lead to brain damage.

• Heart:

• • • Excessive drinking can damage the heart.
    • Conditions include cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), and high blood pressure.

• Liver:

• • • Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver.
    • Problems include fatty liver (steatosis), alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis.

• Pancreas:

• • • Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances.
    • This can lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation that impairs digestion.

• Cancer:

• • • Alcohol consumption is linked to several types of cancer.
    • Clear patterns exist between alcohol and increased risks of head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer.
    • Even moderate alcohol intake can elevate cancer risk.

• Mental Health and Social Problems:

• • Alcohol abuse can lead to depression, anxiety, and relationship/job issues.
  • During pregnancy, alcohol can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth defects (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders).

Around 14.4 million adults in the U.S. have alcohol use disorders. Among individuals aged 12 to 20, about 17% engaged in underage alcohol misuse. Binge drinking is an indicator of potentially serious alcohol abuse. In New Jersey, the estimated percentage of adults who reported binge drinking in the past 30 days in 2020 was 15.2% while it was an average of 15.7% in the US.

How much alcohol is too much per day?

Understanding the risks linked to alcohol consumption involves considering multiple factors: the amount consumed, the pace of consumption, and how frequently one drinks. Long-term alcohol use can contribute to chronic health conditions such as liver disease, as well as social issues like strained relationships. However, accurately gauging alcohol intake poses a challenge for individuals due to variations in serving sizes and alcohol concentrations among different beverages. This underscores the necessity for clear communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding alcohol consumption to effectively manage associated risks.

Defining how much alcohol is too much can vary based on individual factors, but here are some general guidelines:

Moderate Alcohol Consumption:

• For women, moderate alcohol consumption is up to one drink per day.
• For men, it’s up to two drinks per day.

Binge Drinking:

• Binge drinking is defined as reaching a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.
• This occurs after consuming 4 or more drinks (women) or 5 or more drinks (men) within about 2 hours.

For people over 65, limiting alcohol to one daily drink is recommended. Certain individuals should abstain from alcohol entirely due to various reasons. These include those managing health conditions exacerbated by alcohol consumption, individuals taking medications with alcohol interactions, pregnant women, or those intending to conceive, and individuals under the legal drinking age of 21. It’s crucial for these groups to avoid alcohol to safeguard their health and well-being. 

For people who are concerned about their alcohol consumption or want help cutting back or quitting altogether, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings can be a great solution. AA is a support group program designed to help people struggling with alcohol dependence. AA meetings in Bridgeton offer a number of benefits. They provide a supportive environment where you can connect with others who understand what you’re going through. You can learn from the experiences of others in recovery and the 12-step program, and attending meetings regularly creates a sense of accountability to stay on track in your journey.

Resilience in Sobriety: Bridgeton NJ Halfway Houses for Recovery from Alcohol Addiction and Mental Health Issues

Alcohol addiction is a chronic disease. People with this condition have a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. This means they crave alcohol and have a hard time controlling their drinking, even though it causes problems in their lives. There is a strong connection between alcohol addiction and mental health issues. This is called a co-occurring disorder. Certain mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, may increase a person’s risk of developing alcohol problems. Around 1/3 of people with alcohol problems also have a mental health disorder, and vice versa. Approximately 29.5 million people in the United States, including New Jersey, met the criteria for alcohol use disorder in the past year. This disorder encompasses a range of alcohol-related problems, from mild to severe.

Recovery programs offer a route to overcoming addiction, but navigating this journey requires guidance. Halfway houses are designed to aid individuals dealing with alcohol addiction and mental health issues by providing a structured living environment for recovery. New Jersey halfway houses offer various services including substance-free accommodations, therapy sessions, both individual and group, life skills training, relapse prevention education, and opportunities for further education. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, it’s important to know that halfway houses in Bridgeton can provide valuable assistance. Reach out for support and assistance today.

Resources:

[1] Drug and Alcohol Abuse – State of New Jersey

[2] Alcohol and Mental Health – Web MD

[3] New Jersey State Health Assessment – New Jersey Department of Health