Alcohol Rehab in Allentown, PA

Entering into our centers for alcohol rehab in Allentown is the first step on the journey to recovery from alcohol addiction. Our specialized programs for alcohol addiction treatment use a combination of therapies and treatments designed to address both the physical and psychological aspect of alcohol dependency. Allentown Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers can help by offering guidance in searching for a treatment center that's perfect for you (877) 804-1531.

The key to making a successful recovery from alcohol abuse and addiction is learning strong new coping skills and healthy sobriety mechanisms designed to reduce the risk of ‘falling off the wagon', or relapsing after the person has left rehab.

The objective of our programs for alcohol rehab in Allentown is to ensure that every person who leaves rehab is equipped with the appropriate recovery tools and resources needed to maintain motivation to stay sober over the long term.

What is Alcohol Abuse?

Drinking more than the daily recommended amount of alcohol in one sitting is considered alcohol abuse. Also known as alcohol use disorder, the act of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause serious physical and psychological health problems. Consistent alcohol abuse over a period of time can also trigger physical dependency on the substance, or addiction.

Binge drinking is considered a form of alcohol abuse. Likewise, drinking to self-medicate or relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety, anger, boredom, or to elevate mood or artificially enhance confidence can also be considered alcohol abuse.

Some common signs of alcohol abuse to watch for include:

Overdrinking: Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol during one session can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning. If the person is not used to drinking alcohol and hasn't developed a level of tolerance, the risk of poisoning is increased again.
Drinking when not in social situations: There is nothing wrong with having a social drink with friends or family once in a while. However, when a person drinks outside of social situations, it could be a sign of self medicating.
Blacking out: Drinking so much alcohol that the person doesn't remember things that were said or done while under the influence is considered ‘blacking out'. Drinking to excess in any situation is considered alcohol abuse.
Deceptive behavior: A person may lie or hide the amount they are drinking or make excuses about the volume being consumed.
Shirking obligations: When a person drinks alcohol to the point that it begins to interfere with work, school or family commitments due to spending time drinking or being hung over or sick, it's a clear sign of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol Addiction Signs and Symptoms

People who consistently abuse alcohol face a real risk of progressing to dependency and substance addiction in Allentown when more advanced signs and symptoms arise. Some common signs of a developing alcohol addiction include:

Loss of control: The person can no longer control how much they drink, or they may have difficulty stopping consumption once they have started drinking
Drinking despite negative consequences: The person may continue self-destructive levels of drinking, despite negative consequences to family or social relationships, work or career, or other responsibilities and obligations.
Reliance on alcohol to cope: An increased reliance on drinking alcohol to cope with stress, distress, anger, boredom, frustration, or other problems is a clear sign of a developing addiction.
Repeated failed attempts to quit: When a person promises to quit and repeatedly returns to abusive drinking patterns.
Cravings: Feeling a strong urge or compulsion to have a drink after a difficult day at work or in order to take the edge off an unpleasant situation.
Tolerance: Needing to consume larger volumes of alcohol in order to achieve the same effect that used to be achieved with much less. To an outside observer, it may appear that the person is able to drink a lot without getting drunk.
Physical dependency: When the brain adapts to the consistent presence of alcohol to the point that the person is no longer able to function without drinking more alcohol.
Withdrawal symptoms: Experiencing unpleasant and potentially dangerous alcohol withdrawal symptoms when intake stops suddenly is a sign of addiction.

Dangers of Alcohol

Most people are familiar with the fact that abusing alcohol can lead to liver disease and an increased risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver. What they may not realize is that alcohol has the potential to cause harm to almost every major organ in the body. It also significantly increases the risk of developing a range of chronic health conditions. These include:

Cancer: Alcohol is a known carcinogen that can increase the risk of developing certain cancers, including mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, liver, breast, and colon cancer.

Heart damage: Alcohol abuse damages the heart muscle, causing it to droop or stretch, a condition known as cardiomyopathy. The person is at an increased risk of heart attack or developing heart disease.

Brain damage: Alcohol interferes with the brain's normal communication pathways and acts directly on the central nervous system as a depressant. Alcohol can impair cognitive thinking, erode and impair memory, and cause behavioral and mood changes.

Kidney damage: Alcohol abuse can cause significant damage to the kidneys and increase the risk of kidney failure.

Pancreas damage: Alcohol can significantly damage the pancreas, increasing the risk of developing pancreatitis and type 2 diabetes.

Who Needs to Enter an Alcohol Abuse Rehab?

Anyone struggling to regain control over their level of alcohol consumption should seek professional help in our alcohol rehab in Allentown. Most people believe that ‘fixing' a person with a drinking problem means they should exert a bit of willpower and simply stop drinking.

In reality, detoxing from alcohol only rids the body of the effects of the substance. Detox on its own does nothing to address the underlying psychological triggers behind self-destructive drinking behaviors. Trying to quit drinking at home without professional rehab therapy is almost impossible for the majority of people, as the psychological triggers to continue dysfunctional behaviors still remains. Medical detox in Allentown, for instance, has a team of medical professionals that ease all uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

By comparison, entering into alcohol rehab in Allentown can increase the likelihood of remaining clean and sober over the long term. When a recovering person enters into drug and alcohol rehab, the treatment process begins with the detox process.

Alcohol withdrawal can produce a range of unpleasant symptoms that could be potentially dangerous in some people. It's important that specialists within drug and alcohol treatment centers provide medical supervision and monitoring to ensure the person's safety throughout the process.

Alcohol addiction treatment also incorporates behavioral therapy and individual counseling sessions to identify each person's underlying psychological addiction triggers. Counseling also helps the person develop a strong relapse prevention strategy designed to help avoid returning back into dysfunctional drinking behaviors after leaving rehab.

The objective of our programs for alcohol rehab in Allentown is to ensure every person who leaves the treatment facility has the recovery tools and resources needed to maintain motivation to stay sober over the long term. Call Allentown Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers today at (877) 804-1531.