Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Alcohol Addiction Treatment Near You in New Jersey

Alcohol is considered the most abused and widely used substance in the world. Although it is common and often normalized, alcohol use can sometimes spiral into an addiction, known as alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcoholism. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we treat individuals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania who are struggling with AUD and other substance use disorders (SUDs). Learn more about alcohol use and our evidence-based addiction treatment programs near you in Watchung, NJ.

Key Takeaways

• Alcohol addiction is the most common type of substance use disorder in the United States, and it can have disastrous effects on a person’s life and overall well-being.
• Symptoms of alcohol addiction include behavioral symptoms, such as binge drinking or neglecting responsibilities; physical symptoms, such as slurred speech or weight fluctuations; and psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and cravings.
• Diagnosing alcohol addiction requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation that uses screening tools, blood tests, and more.
• Treatment for alcohol addiction typically involves medication-assisted treatment (MAT), individual and group therapies, and holistic therapies, such as meditation and mindfulness.

Understanding Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that impacts the brain and body in various ways. Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, a toxic, psychoactive substance that affects the brain’s chemistry, producing feelings of pleasure and reducing negative feelings. The effects of alcohol can lead people to continuously seek it, even when it has negative effects, including hangovers, poor decision-making, withdrawals, and more.

When people continuously and compulsively use alcohol despite negative consequences, and they can’t control or stop drinking, it is known as alcohol addiction or AUD. People with AUD often get stuck in a cycle of drinking:

• Binge drinking/intoxication: The cycle begins with binge drinking or intoxication, which is when a person experiences the rewarding effects of alcohol, such as euphoria and easier social interactions. These effects make the person more likely to continue using alcohol.
• Negative affect/withdrawal: This stage occurs when a person who is addicted to alcohol stops drinking, causing them to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, pain, irritability, anxiety, and more. When a person is in this stage, they don’t drink alcohol to get the rewarding effects, but rather to manage the negative effects.
• Preoccupation/anticipation: This stage is when the individual starts drinking again after a period of abstinence. They often become preoccupied with getting and drinking alcohol and look forward to using it again.

The cycle will repeat itself, causing harmful effects on work, family life, social life, relationships, and other areas of a person’s life. It typically continues until an individual with AUD decides to seek professional treatment.

Prevalence of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol use disorder is the most common type of substance use disorder in the United States. According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 27.9 million people in the U.S. had alcohol use disorder in 2024. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reported that excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Excessive alcohol use also shortened the lives of those who died by an average of 24 years, demonstrating the serious negative effects that alcohol can have.

In New Jersey, the statistics are also concerning. According to New Jersey State Health Assessment Data, around 14.8% of adults reported binge drinking (consuming 4 to 5 drinks per sitting) in 2024. Fortunately, treatment is available for alcohol use disorder that can help people get sober and reduce the negative effects of alcohol on their lives.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction?

Not everyone who drinks alcohol will develop a dependence or addiction. However, for people who use alcohol excessively, there are certain signs and symptoms that can indicate an addiction. These include:

• Behavioral symptoms, such as binge drinking, neglecting responsibilities, acting secretively, using alcohol even when negative effects occur, and failing to cut down on drinking
• Physical symptoms, such as slurred speech, tremors, weight fluctuations, skin issues, decreased hygiene, and withdrawal symptoms like shakiness, excessive sweating, nausea, and vomiting
• Psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, irritability, cravings, and preoccupation with getting or drinking alcohol

Long-term use of alcohol can also cause various health risks, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular issues, psychiatric disorders, and an increased risk of cancers and liver diseases. Seeking early intervention for alcohol addiction is the best way to limit its long-term, negative consequences.

How Is Alcohol Addiction Diagnosed?

To diagnose alcohol addiction or AUD, a medical professional must perform a comprehensive clinical assessment that involves various screenings and evaluations. The diagnostic process typically includes:

Diagnostic Questionnaires

These are screening tools used by providers to evaluate a person’s alcohol consumption, dependence, and its effect on their daily life. They include:

• Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): This is a 10-question test developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that assesses consumption, drinking behaviors, and alcohol-related consequences. People with a score of 8 or higher generally have hazardous drinking or AUD.
• DSM-5 criteria: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) outlines standardized criteria for diagnosing substance use disorders, including AUD. It asks about 11 criteria that a person may experience over 12 months. Two or three “yes” responses indicate mild AUD, four or five suggest moderate, and six or more indicate severe.

Blood Biomarkers

Providers may also use laboratory tests to identify consumption habits and determine the physical toll that alcohol takes on the body. They may include:

• Phosphatidylethanol (PEth): This is a direct blood biomarker that is highly specific to alcohol consumption. It can identify heavy drinking over the previous 2 to 4 weeks.
• Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT): This measures a specific protein in the blood that elevates with chronic, heavy alcohol use.
• Ethyl Glucuronide/Ethyl Sulfate (EtG and EtS): These are direct metabolites of alcohol that can reveal recent alcohol ingestion in urine, blood, or hair samples.

Using the information collected from the screenings and tests, providers can generally confirm a diagnosis of AUD.

How Does Alcohol Addiction Treatment Work at Rubicon Recovery Center?

When an individual enters Rubicon Recovery Center for alcohol addiction treatment, they will undergo a comprehensive medical and psychological evaluation. This helps our team of addiction counselors, therapists, and support staff determine which of our three levels of care will be most suitable for their needs. Our programs include:

• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): This is our most intensive outpatient program, which typically lasts 30–45 days. It runs for 6 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week.
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): This program acts as a middle ground between PHP and OP. It typically lasts for 10 to 12 weeks and runs for 3 to 5 days a week, 3 hours a day.
• Outpatient Program (OP): This is our lowest-level program, which runs for 2 to 3 days per week with 1 hour of treatment each day. It is typically only for current patients who need to transition from IOP or PHP.

Each patient in our programs gets a tailored treatment plan that considers various factors, including clinical needs, financial situations, relationship dynamics, and more. With a personalized plan, our treatments can go beyond simply treating symptoms and address the root causes of addiction.

What Are the Treatment Options for Alcohol Addiction?

Alcohol addiction treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each patient at Rubicon Recovery Center will have a customized treatment plan that is developed with their specific needs in mind. However, some of the treatments and modalities we may use include:

Medical Detox

Medical detoxification (detox) is often a first step in alcohol addiction treatment. Detox involves slowly ridding the patient’s body of substances like alcohol while managing withdrawal symptoms under medical supervision. Not everyone with alcohol addiction will need detox, but it is most helpful for people who are long-term, heavy drinkers who experience significant withdrawal symptoms when they discontinue alcohol use.

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we don’t directly offer medical detox. However, we work with reputable medical detox facilities to provide referrals for medically supervised detox. This helps ensure patients can get continued care without interruption, promoting a strong start to recovery.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is often a part of an AUD treatment plan. MAT involves certain approved medications in combination with behavioral therapies. For AUD, medications like naltrexone and acamprosate help to limit the rewarding effects of alcohol use, reducing cravings and preventing relapses. Other medications, such as disulfiram, cause intensely undesirable effects when a person drinks alcohol, helping people abstain from its use.

At Rubicon Recovery Center, we offer MAT coordination to help patients with AUD avoid relapses and sustain long-term recovery.

Behavioral Therapies

At Rubicon Recovery Center, our therapists use a variety of therapies and modalities, often alongside medication, to help patients understand the root causes of their substance use, recognize their alcohol use triggers, and develop stronger coping mechanisms. Some of the therapies we may use include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people recognize and modify negative, addiction-related thought patterns and behaviors
• Motivational interviewing (MI), which helps enhance a person’s motivation for and commitment to change
• Group therapy, which involves other peers in a therapy session to promote community support and connection
• Family counseling, which helps improve relationships and develop a supportive environment by inviting family members into therapy sessions

Most patients will attend a mix of individual, group, and family therapy sessions to address different facets of their substance use and its effects.

Holistic Therapies

Holistic therapies are strategies that treat the whole person, not just the diagnosis or symptoms. They help address the intertwined connections between a person’s mind, body, emotions, and spirit. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we offer a variety of holistic therapies to help our patients achieve balance, stability, and a deeper understanding of themselves. These therapies include yoga, meditation, mindfulness, art therapy, and nutrition therapy. Our team will integrate some of these holistic therapies into each patient’s treatment plan to help support their recovery goals.

Aftercare Support

Treatment for alcohol addiction doesn’t end when your program does. It is a continuous journey that requires ongoing work to avoid relapse and sustain lasting recovery. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide aftercare planning and resources for our patients to help them after they finish their treatment program. These tools include ongoing therapy, support groups, our alumni program, and access to community resources, such as sober living homes. These resources help set our patients up for success once they complete their outpatient treatment and continue their recovery journey.

What Are the Recovery Expectations for Alcohol Addiction?

As is the case with treatment for alcohol addiction, recovery is unique to every individual. There isn’t a set timeline or path that every person will follow. Some people enter long-term recovery after a single treatment program, while others relapse multiple times and need to attend many different treatment facilities. The timeline for recovery and long-term outlook will depend on the specific person and their circumstances.

However, there are certain tools that can set a person up for success in alcohol recovery. These include aftercare and relapse prevention tools, including support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), coping strategies training, and grounding techniques. Living in sober living environments can also help people avoid the temptations of substances after treatment.

Why Choose Rubicon Recovery Center for Addiction Treatment?

Choosing which treatment facility to attend for alcohol addiction treatment is a major factor in your recovery journey. Therefore, you want to choose a reputable facility that has expertise in treating alcohol addiction with individualized care. At Rubicon Recovery Center, we provide supportive and comprehensive treatment options for alcohol use disorder. Reasons patients choose us include:

• Holistic approach to care: We believe in treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. We do this by combining evidence-based and holistic therapies to address the mind, body, and spirit simultaneously.
• Comfortable, judgment-free environment: Our facility features 3 large group rooms, 12 clinical offices, a conference room, and a lounge area, offering plenty of space for recovery and support.
• Expert addiction team: Our center is staffed by an experienced team of licensed addiction counselors, therapists, rehab professionals, and support staff. Each member is dedicated to helping patients find balance, rediscover their strengths, and achieve long-term sobriety.
• Insurance acceptance: We accept most major insurance providers, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and more. Our Admissions Department offers a convenient insurance verification process to help you determine your coverage and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
• Medical detox placement: We offer referrals to trusted medically supervised detox centers to ensure our patients can stop using alcohol and other substances safely.

These are just some of the reasons why patients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York choose Rubicon Recovery Center for their substance use treatment. For more insight, read through our patient testimonials.

Find Alcohol Addiction Treatment Near You in NJ, PA, & NY

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, help is available at Rubicon Recovery Center. We offer 3 levels of outpatient addiction treatment programs for individuals from NJ, NY, and PA. To learn more about alcohol addiction treatment near you, contact us today or call (908) 274-0015 to speak confidentially with an admissions specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol Addiction

What is alcohol addiction?

Alcohol addiction, also called alcoholism or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is when someone has problems controlling their drinking, even when it leads to negative consequences. It also manifests as being preoccupied with alcohol, experiencing an increasing tolerance to alcohol, or having withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking.

What are the signs of alcohol addiction?

Signs of alcohol addiction include:

• Craving alcohol
• Being preoccupied with getting or drinking alcohol
• Continuing to use alcohol despite negative consequences
• Drinking more than you intended
• Repeatedly trying and failing to reduce how much you drink
• Using alcohol in dangerous situations, such as drinking and driving
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing alcohol use

How is alcohol addiction treated?

Alcohol addiction is treated through a combination of modalities, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), individual and group therapies, and holistic therapies.

How long does alcohol addiction treatment take?

The length of alcohol addiction treatment will depend entirely on the individual. Some people attend short-term programs that are a few weeks long, while others attend long-term programs that can last 3 or 6 months. Research has shown that programs under 90 days have limited effectiveness in treating AUD, so longer programs are often recommended.

What happens during alcohol detox?

The effects of alcohol detox depend on several factors, including the severity of the addiction, how much alcohol is typically consumed, and how long the addiction has been going on. However, there are generally three stages of alcohol withdrawal that can occur during detox:

• Stage 1 (mild), which results in symptoms like headaches, insomnia, anxiety, hand tremors, heart palpitations, and more
• Stage 2 (moderate), which causes symptoms like increased blood pressure or heart rate, confusion, mild hyperthermia, and rapid, abnormal breathing
• Stage 3 (severe), which leads to symptoms like visual or auditory hallucinations, seizures, disorientation, and impaired attention

Can I recover from alcohol addiction on my own?

It’s possible to recover from alcohol addiction without professional treatment. However, treatment gives you the tools to get sober, prevent relapse, and maintain long-term recovery, while quitting on your own does not.

How does therapy help in alcohol addiction recovery?

Therapy helps in alcohol addiction recovery by helping the person address the root causes of their addiction, including underlying psychological problems, identify what triggers their substance use, and develop better coping skills they can use when triggered.

How can I support someone in alcohol recovery?

To support someone in alcohol recovery, you can celebrate milestones and effort, encourage healthy habits and aftercare support, and refrain from judgment if a relapse occurs. You may also want to abstain from alcohol when around the person.