The holiday season often finds families with cherished memories, warmth and happiness. For many families though, nothing destroys this season more than alcohol or drugs.During the holidays, adults and children alike spend time with family and friends and reflect upon their lives in the spirit of the season - a spirit of gratitude and joy and looking forward to a new year of health and prosperity. Many families, though, spend this season in pain - great emotional pain. Instead of joy and comfort, they experience tension, sadness and despair. The excitement of the season is overshadowed by the realities of alcohol or drug addiction. Often it may be fear of abusive behavior, the loss of money needed for family support, embarrassment from having family and friends know, or it may be from the deep emotional pain that always accompanies addiction.
A Family Disease
According to Al-Anon and Al-Ateen, it is estimated that each alcoholic affects the lives of at least four other people. As many as one in four families suffer from alcoholism or another chemical dependency. Addiction is a family disease and often the family members suffer as much if not more than the addicted person himself or herself.
Emotional Pain and Alcohol Related Family Problems
Family members may laugh on the outside, but feel great pain on the inside. Their dreams of life's promises are too often lost in the realities of dependency. Nowhere is this more pronounced than during the holiday season - a time when traditions and customs should bring great joy to all families.People tend to drink more during the holiday season - both social drinkers and people who are chemically dependent. As such, there are simply more alcohol related problems and accidents during the holiday season. Alcohol intoxication can also have a direct toxic effect on the family - it can disrupt family communication, cause conflict in the family, disrupt family routines and traditions, can lead into emotional neglect or physical abuse, and in general make home life unhappy.
Drinking Guidelines
This holiday season, remember that people do not have to celebrate with alcohol. In fact, one-third of adults do not drink alcohol at all - and they have positive and happy lives. If an adult chooses to drink, he or she should follow the prescribed guidelines for alcohol consumption: a man should never have more than two standard drinks in any single day, or a woman no more than one drink. Some people should not drink at all, including pregnant women, youth under the age of 21, those in recovery, people with a family history of alcoholism including children of alcoholics, people taking medications, or those involved with risky activities such as driving.Reaching Out for Help
Remember also that if there is an alcohol or drug problem, then a conscious effort must be made to stop all use - and that means by reaching out for help. Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive and often fatal disease. Each New Year, resolutions are made to quit drinking, but without help even the most serious and conscious attempts usually fade away. People need help to quite drinking - either from a professional agency or through a 12-Step fellowship such as Alcoholics Anonymous.Holidays are a time for celebration, gratitude, charity and hope. Too often, though, alcohol and drugs mar a family’s happiness during the holiday season. If a person or a family member has a problem with alcohol, they should call a local treatment agency or Alcoholics Anonymous. Help can also be found at the Helpline of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 800-662-HELP (4357). Holidays are for enjoyment - and this is best by keeping families safe, healthy and drug-free.
