Are You Ready for Dry January? 5 Reasons to Make It Happen This Year
Were you among the tens of thousands of Americans who welcomed in 2018 by drinking heavily and waking up with a hangover? Called Dry January, the first month of the year is often set aside for the purposes of detox by many Americans, a time to recover after months of holiday excess.
For many this is nothing more than a “reset,” an opportunity to refocus on living a healthy and positive life in the new year. However, for those who struggle with an ongoing problem with substance use and abuse, taking part in Dry January can be the start of a whole new life in recovery.
If you are on the fence about whether or not taking the Dry January challenge is a good idea for you, here are a few reasons why setting aside alcohol can be a positive choice for your health and your life:
1. Accidents and injuries: When you are under the influence, you are more likely to drown, become the victim of a homicide, experience a fatal burn or fall, and get into a motor vehicle accident. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), an estimated 60 percent of people who die of burn injuries, 50 percent of those who experience severe trauma injuries and/or sexual assault, and 40 percent of people who die in a motor vehicle accident are under the influence of alcohol.
2. Relationship problems: If you find that the people who are closest to you are uncomfortable with your drinking or express concern about your behavior under the influence, it is a sure sign that you need to take a moment to reconsider your relationship with alcohol.
3. Difficulties at work: It is not easy to keep up at work, handle inmates and coworkers, or mange the details of the work of a correctional officer when you are hungover or still under the influence when you clock in.
4. Medical problems: Cancer, heart problems, disorders of the liver, reduced immunity, and more can all develop as a result of drinking.
5. Alcohol use disorders: Whether alcohol has become an object of addictive use or a continued crutch for managing uncomfortable emotions, compulsive use of alcohol can make everything in life more difficult.
Need to ‘Dry Out’ in Rehab?
If you are trying to stop drinking this January and you find that you are unable to do so on your own, help is available. Here at American Addiction Centers, we provide a range of treatment services from outpatient care to an intensive First Responder Lifeline Program designed to meet the needs of corrections officers and other first responders. We offer:
· A full evaluation and assessment to identify trauma-related disorders that co-occur with substance use disorders
· A treatment plan designed to meet the needs of first responders
· A team of medical and mental health professionals who are trained to work with first responders
· Long-term aftercare and follow-up support
· Assistance with the reintegration process
Can we help you begin your journey into the new year? Contact us at (844) 646–4COS(267) today to learn more about the First Responder Lifeline Program and how it can assist you in connecting with life-changing treatment in 2018.
