Alcohol Addiction in Atlantic City
Atlantic City has long been a favorite destination of gambling enthusiasts on the East Coast and a top choice for bachelor parties. The “Vegas of the East” has more than that in common with its counterpart in the Nevada desert.
Atlantic City has had much more than its share of alcoholism for decades. Whether it’s the presence of legal casino gambling or another reason —- people in Atlantic City drink more than most, and so do the city’s visitors. But what happens when the party’s over?
This Achieve Wellness and Recovery article takes a hard look at drinking and alcohol addiction in Atlantic City and what it takes to escape the undertow of alcoholism.
A Brief History of Alcoholism in Atlantic City
It would be easy to assume that Atlantic City’s alcohol addiction problems coincided with it’s adoption of legal gambling in 1977—but you’d be wrong. Atlantic City’s history as a place where addictions and vices run wild more than likely came out of the 1920s. If you’ve seen HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, then you know exactly what we’re getting at.
During Prohibition in the United States, a large portion of the population was not ready to give up alcohol. Especially the people with alcoholism. While some people managed to get a doctor’s note which allowed them a certain amount of legal hooch for “medical use”, most Americans were out of luck during Prohibition.
Some Atlantic City entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to meet the needs of people with alcohol use disorders and those who just wanted a wild weekend alike. Atlantic City was already a pleasant seaside location where people went for short vacations. So long before the [legal] casinos came, Atlantic City was awash in booze from speakeasies and secret stills.
Is A.C. Addiction City?
We love A.C., so we’re not here to knock The Monopoly City —- but we’re also not going to sugarcoat the truth. And the truth is that alcoholism and drug addiction are a bigger problem for Atlantic City that a lot of other cities in New Jersey about the same size.
Why is that? That’s not too much of a mystery. Like we said, it became a place to go and drink to excess all the way back in the Prohibition era. Now that it’s one of only two cities in America outside an Indian reservation where gambling and casinos are legal…well.
Vices tend to cluster together. People like to gamble when they drink, and people like to drink when they gamble. This, we know. Unfortunately, a lot of people have an addiction to both of those things, and finding your way out can be a serious challenge.
Some Statistics About Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Alcohol Abuse
- The average visitor to Atlantic City spends $39 a day on alcohol.
- Most gamblers drink for free in casinos (that puts that $39 in a different light!)
- 32% of the 911 calls and hospital admissions in Atlantic City are alcohol-related.
- There are over 3,000 deaths a year in New Jersey due to alcohol-related health problems—this does not include car accidents.
Sources:
New Jersey Department of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism,
Helping a Friend or Family Member with Alcohol Abuse
If someone you care about is wrestling with a drinking problem in Atlantic City, it’s easy to feel like there’s nothing you can do about it. But we’re here to tell you that’s not exactly true. It’s a fact that a person needs to be willing in order to get sober and stay that way—-but some people don’t find that willingness until they are already in an alcohol treatment center.
If your friend or family member has even a little bit of willingness to accept help, or if they are at least open to talking to you about their drinking—that’s a reason for hope! Keep that conversation going.
Make sure they know you’re there for them and will help them when they are ready. If they are in trouble and showing no signs of stopping, you might also consider a professional intervention. Call us at (833) 680-0142.
Alcohol Addiction Help for Yourself Near Atlantic City
The fact you are reading this article right now says that at least some part of you is ready for help. That’s good news. Look, we get it. Quitting drinking is scary. It’s hard to imagine life without alcohol right now. So don’t. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Just put one foot in front of the other.
Listen: You are having a moment of clarity right now—do not waste it. Your phone is probably in your hand, so give us a call. RIGHT NOW. You’ve got nothing to lose except a few more weeks, months or years of misery.
Exceptional Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Atlantic County, NJ
Achieve Wellness and Recovery is Southern Jersey’s premier alcohol use disorder treatment program. We aren’t a large hospital or institutional program. We keep our patient population small so we can give each person the attention they deserve.
Effective, no-nonsense, evidence-based addiction care is what Achieve Wellness and Recovery is known best for. We tell it like it is, and we don’t just help you stop drinking—we give you practical tools and strategies to help you build and safeguard long-term sobriety.
One call can change it all.
Do it: (833) 680-0142
You can also click here to find out how our program can work with your insurance.
