THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER marks the kickoff of the holiday season—a festive, celebratory time of year that, depending on whom you ask, starts on Thanksgiving and continues uninterrupted through New Year’s Day. As of late, some people have even begun to extend the season beyond these traditional parameters to include Halloween and the Super Bowl. That amounts to 101 days of celebration! Also occurring within that expansive timeframe are numerous religious holidays, school breaks, along with various other observances and events that people consider cause for celebration.
Of course, part and parcel of the holiday season are myriad parties and get-togethers where alcohol (and potentially other intoxicants) is served and consumed. When guests pace themselves and drink in moderation, holiday parties can be pleasant, memorable occasions that strengthen friendships and family bonds. But for peoplewhoaregrapplingwithsubstance abuse and trying to stay sober, or who are simply prone to overindulgence, holiday gatherings can present some serious pitfalls and challenges.
It’s an undeniable reality that, for many people, alcohol goes hand in hand with the holidays. However, the motivations behind holiday substance use can vary significantly. According to Jessica Vander Espt, LMHCA, LCAC, LICDC- CS, Clinical Director for Amatus Health, the parent company of Midwest Recovery Center in Toledo, “Some people use alcohol or other intoxicants to celebrate, some to socialize, some to cope with heightened stress and anxiety, and so on. The reasons are as diverse as the individuals. It’s also important to recognize that patterns of holiday substance use and notions of what is appropriate can differ across cultures.”
It should come as no surprise that the holidays can be a major source of stress and, therefore, a stimulus for some to overindulge. Everyone wants to buy the perfect gifts, host the perfect party, serve the perfect meals, and decorate with the utmost flair. This impulse to achieve perfection not only creates a tremendous time crunch, but it can also exacerbate financial concerns for individuals who are already on a tight budget. “Grief can be another major holiday stressor,” Vander-Espt adds. “A lot of people associate the season with the loss of loved ones.”
Furthermore, while spending time with loved ones over the holidays brings joy to many people, not everyone has the same positive experience when surrounded by family and friends. For some families, emotions and tensions tend to run high at holiday gatherings— especially in this highly divisive era—which can tempt vulnerable individuals to turn to alcohol or other intoxicants as a means of coping.
The prevailing media messaging during the holidays also presents a tremendous challenge to anyone who wishes to avoid overindulgence. The cues are everywhere. On television, in movies, in print ads, on billboards— wherever you look, people are celebrating the holidays with alcohol, Vander-Espt notes. “Another concern is that people with substance use disorder can struggle to regulate their emotions, so they’re already more prone to relapse,” she explains.
To appreciate the challenge that alcohol and other intoxicants present during the holiday season, consider the patient influx that medical facilities see each year during this period. Vander-Espt notes that, according to a study titled “Alcohol-Related Presentations to Emergency Departments on Days with Holidays, Social, and Sporting Events: An Integrative Literature Review” (Hagan, Crilly, and Ranse, 2023), alcohol-related hospital admissions and emergency room presentations increase on the last working day before Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
Of course, alcohol isn’t the only substance of concern over the holidays. Cannabis, which is now legal for recreational use in the state of Ohio, is another mood-altering drug that impairs judgment of distance, slows reaction time, and decreases coordination. Owing to these effects, it’s highly unsafe—and illegal—to use cannabis if you plan to get behind the wheel.
Evenmoreconcerningis the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Deadly when ingested in shockingly miniscule amounts (a lethal dose is the approximate size of three grains of sand), this drug and other synthetic opioids claim over 150 lives each day in the United States.
Because fentanyl is commonly mixed with other street drugs or made to look identical to prescription medications, it’s all too easy for someone to ingest a lethal dose unwittingly despite believing they’re taking a less-potent drug or even a therapeutic medication. Obviously, attending a holiday party where any type of drug will be part of the celebration greatly increases the odds of accidental fentanyl exposure.
Vander-Espt reminds HLN readers that naloxone (e.g. NARCAN) is a powerful tool anyone can employ in the event of a fentanyl or other opioid overdose. Available in nasal spray and injectable forms, naloxone can quickly reverse the effects of opioids if administered promptly. “It’s very important for people to know naloxone is available, keep it on hand, and know how to use it, especially if they know a family member or friend is using opioids. It could save a life,” she states.
Individuals currently in recovery are encouraged to have a plan in place for what they’ll do during the holiday season when confronted with triggers (feelings, situations, or scenarios that increase the desire to use again), as well as to have realistic expectations going into the season so they can keep their stress level as low as possible. “Above all, try to keep the lines of communication open with family and friends. Don’t be afraid to speak up and establish boundaries for yourself. The better your loved ones understand what you’re dealing with and what you need in order to avoid relapse, the better they can support you in sobriety,” Vander-Espt says.
For more expert advice on how to handle intoxicants safely and responsibly during the holiday season, be sure to read part 2 of this article in next month’s issue of Healthy Living News. ✲
