Alcohol addiction and alcoholism afflicts many residents in New Jersey on a daily basis. Alcohol addiction has found its way into all areas of the state, and many communities struggle with this problem. The need for alcohol rehab and alcohol treatment in the area has never been greater.

Alcohol treatment and alcohol rehabilitation in New Jersey offers a solution that works to resolve issues involved in alcohol addiction. Alcohol rehab programs in New Jersey have the training and knowledge to handle whatever comes up in the course of treatment, and can provide individuals with counseling and other services to assist them in discovering the causes of their addiction. By gaining the knowledge and life tools in treatment, the individual will be in a better position to confront their problems in life and not use alcohol as a solution.

Regular abuse of alcohol over an extended period of time makes individuals physically dependant to it. This physical dependence is the cause of physical withdrawal symptoms which occur when they suddenly quit drinking alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms can last for days, and can be very uncomfortable and painful. In the most serious cases, withdrawal can be potentially deadly. With expert care and support from an alcohol rehab center in New Jersey, the withdrawal process can be safely overcome. The individual will then be able to focus on their next steps of recovery.

There are numerous alcohol rehab options in New Jersey. There are Long-term Alcohol Rehabilitation Programs, Outpatient Alcohol Rehabs, Short-term Alcohol Treatment Centers, Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Facilities, support group meetings, alcohol counseling, halfway houses and sober living.

Alcohol addiction will destroy everything good in your life if you let it. Get the help you need and seek alcohol treatment and rehabilitation in New Jersey. It's never too late.

New Jersey alcohol related information and statistics are provided by the US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004. The number of alcohol-related deaths in New Jersey has dropped significantly from a high of 622 in 1982, to a low of 197 in 2008. The percentage of fatalities that were alcohol related has also dropped steadily, from a high of 59% in 1982, to a low of 33% in 2008.

The table below shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the New Jersey, alcohol related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+).All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The first (and original) offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a New Jersey police officer's observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.) The second offense is called "illegal per se", which is driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Since 2002 it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC that is 0.08% or higher.

It is important to note that the New Jersey drunk driving statistics, as shown below, include data from individuals who were in an alcohol-related crash, but not driving a motor vehicle at the time. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines alcohol-related deaths as "fatalities that occur in crashes where at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or bicyclist) involved in the crash has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value."

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2003-2004, Office of Applied Studies 2003-2004 and the MADD Official Website statistics 2004

When is a driver considered to be legally drunk in New Jersey?

• Non-commercial drivers in New Jersey age 21+ are considered legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .08 or more.
• Drivers of commercial vehicles in New Jersey are legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .04 percent or greater.
• Drivers under 21 in New Jersey are legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .01 or more.

Penalties for Drunk Driving in New Jersey

• A first-time offender in New Jersey with a BAC of .08 but less than .10 faces a term of imprisonment of up to 30 days and must pay a fine of at least $250 but not more than $400. The offender must also forfeit his or her driver's license for three months. In addition, a period of detainment of 12 to 48 hours spent during two consecutive days of at least six hours each day is required. During this time, the offender will be required to attend an intoxicated driver program.
• A first-time offender in New Jersey with a BAC of .10 or higher faces a prison term of up to 30 days and must pay a fine of at least $300 but not more than $500. The offender must also forfeit his or her driver's license for seven months to one year. In addition, a period of detainment of 12 to 48 hours spent during two consecutive days of at least six hours each day is required. During this time, the offender will be required to attend an intoxicated driver program.
• For a second violation within 10 years in New Jersey, the offender faces a prison term of up to 90 days and must pay a fine of at least $500 but not more than $1,000. The offender must also forfeit his or her driver's license for two years.
• For a third or subsequent violation in New Jersey within 10 years, the offender faces a prison term of at least 180 days in a county jail or a workhouse. The offender must also pay a $1,000 fine. A third and subsequent offender is also required to forfeit his or her driver's license for 10 years.

Enhanced Penalties for DWI Committed on School Property, Within 1,000 Feet of School Property, or While Driving Through a Designated School Crossing

DWI penalties in New Jersey are enhanced when the violation occurs on school property, within 1,000 feet of school property, or while the offender is driving through a designated school crossing. The penalties are as follows:

• For a first offense in New Jersey, the offender faces a prison term of up to 60 days. The fine is between $500 and $800. The offender's driver's license will be suspended for one to two years.
• For a second offense in New Jersey, the offender faces a prison term of 90 hours to 180 days. The offender must also perform community service for 60 days. The fine is between $1,000 and $2,000. The offender's driver's license will be suspended for four years.
• For a third offense in New Jersey, the offender faces 180 days imprisonment. The fine is $2,000. The offender's driver's license will be suspended for 20 years.

Additional Penalty for Committing a DWI While a Passenger 17 or Younger is in the Vehicle

In addition to other penalties associated with New Jersey's DWI laws, a person who is convicted of DWI while a person 17 or younger is in the vehicle will be required to forfeit his or her driver's license for an additional period of not more than six months.

Ignition Interlock

First-time DWI offenders in New Jersey may be required to install an ignition interlock device in every vehicle they own, use, or regularly operate for six months to one year after the offender's driver's license suspension period expires.

Second and subsequent DWI offenders will be required to install an ignition interlock device in every vehicle they own, use, or regularly operate for one to three years after the offender's driver's license suspension period expires.

Surcharge

All persons convicted of DWI in New Jersey must pay a $100 surcharge. Of this, $50 is payable to the municipality where the conviction was obtained and $50 is payable to the State for deposit into its general fund.

Commercial Drivers

In addition to other penalties associated with New Jersey's DWI laws, a commercial driver who is convicted of DWI while operating a commercial vehicle will have his or her commercial driver's license suspended for one to three years for the first offense. If, however, however, the offender was driving a commercial vehicle and transporting hazardous materials at the time, the suspension period is three years. If a commercial driver is convicted of DWI in New Jersey while operating a non-commercial vehicle, the offender's commercial license will be suspended for one year. If a commercial driver commits a second DWI while operating a commercial vehicle, the offender's commercial driver's license will be suspended for life, which may or may not be reduced to a period of 10 years.

Penalties for Underage DWI

An underage person who commits a DWI in New Jersey with a BAC of .01 but less than .08 is required to forfeit his or her driver's license for 30 to 90 days. The underage offender is also required to perform community service work for 15 to 30 days and attend a program of alcohol education and highway safety. These penalties are in addition to any penalties that may be imposed under New Jersey's DWI laws applicable to offenders 21 and older.

What is New Jersey's Licensed Alcoholic Beverage Server Fair Liability Act?

Under this law, a person who is injured as a result of the negligent service of alcohol by a server at a licensed drinking establishment in New Jersey may recover damages from the establishment if the server was negligent; the injury was caused by the negligent service of alcohol; and the injury was a foreseeable consequence of the negligent service of alcohol. A licensed server will be found negligent only when he or she served a visibly intoxicated person or served a minor under circumstances where the server knew or should have known that the person served was a minor. If liable, the drinking establishment is responsible to pay for the percentage of damages equal to the percentage of negligence attributable to the server.

What is New Jersey's Social Host Liability Statute?

Under this statute, a person who is injured as a result of the negligent provision of alcohol by a social host in New Jersey to a person 21 or older may recover damages from the social host only if the social host willfully and knowingly provided alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person under circumstances that created an unreasonable risk of foreseeable harm to the life of another; the social host failed to exercise reasonable care to avoid that risk; and the injury arose out of a motor vehicle accident caused by the visibly intoxicated person. Under this statute, if a blood alcohol test was given to the intoxicated person, the social host may be held liable if the person's BAC measured .10 percent or more.

Penalty for Selling or Providing Liquor to a Person Under 21

In New Jersey, a person who sells or provides alcohol to a person under 21 commits a disorderly persons offense, which is a petty offense that subjects the offender to a fine of up to $1,000. Additionally, a person who makes their home available to underage drinkers will also be guilty of a disorderly person offense.