Low-risk Drinking During the Holiday Season
It’s that time of the year. Everyone is gathered around a large table sharing a home-cooked meal with family and friends. In the background is the sound of a parade or football game. In this moment laughter, family, friends, peace, and love are the focus.
Unfortunately, not everyone experiences these peaceful and joyous holiday moments. For many, this time of the year brings varying levels of stress, family tension, and holiday anxiety. This is especially true for families struggling with alcohol misuse.
If you find yourself or your family in this situation, here are a few helpful tips:
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Family involvement starts before the holiday. Engage in family discussions about alcohol use and remove spiked foods or alcoholic beverages at family gatherings throughout the year.
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Active and reflective listening can improve family communication. Engage in the conversation. Acknowledge the feelings expressed by family members before communicating your own.
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Mending family conflict can be scary when it involves addressing concerns about alcohol use. Discussing concerns in a respectful and positive way can result in stronger and healthier family bonds.
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Initiate open communication with family and friends about alcohol use. Not talking about it can deliver the wrong message and lead to misunderstandings.
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Learn from past conflicts to decrease the likelihood of repeating harmful behaviors and interactions.
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Invest in and nurture family bonds consistently. Build family connections through positive activities that don’t always involve alcohol.
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Emotional awareness is the ability to identify the emotions you or others may be experiencing at any given time. Alcohol can be a barrier to connecting to family and friends emotionally.
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Support one another. Help family member or friend by suggesting they meet with a professional, abstaining from drinking when spending time together, and engaging in activities that don’t involve drinking.
For more information, please contact the local Substance Assessment and Counseling Center (SACC). The local SACC offers a variety of substance misuse education, prevention, and non-medical counseling services that can promote individual and operational readiness for Marines, attached service members, and their adult dependents.