Drug, alcohol abuse rises during the holidays, according to study

“Those addicted to drugs and/ or alcohol suffer more emotional and material losses which lead to escalated drug use, resulting in more overdoses, suicide attempts, physical injuries and deaths during the holiday season than any other time of the year,” said Gary W. Smith, CEO of Narconon Arrowhead, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation and education organization, referring to a nationwide survey just completed by his organization.

According to Smith, 33,934 people who had contacted Narconon Arrowhead for help with an addiction problem since January took part in the random survey. Narconon Arrowhead has been operating a toll-free drug information help line for 15 years and an Internet/e-mail drug information site for the last 10 years. The surveyed group also included 561 people who entered the Narconon Arrowhead program for treatment since Jan. 1.

“We know from past experience that our websites, e-mail information request line and our 1-800 helpline traffic increases dramatically from Thanksgiving to the end of the year. . . . This year we wanted to find out what drives people to call us and what problems addicts and/or their loved ones are experiencing that prompt them to make contact and reach for help,” said Smith.

Three important facts came from this study:

First, of those surveyed, 73 percent reported that addicts or their loved ones seem to experience more problems, upsets and emotionally traumatic situations during the winter holiday season than any other national holiday or event of the year.

Second, 61 percent of those who entered treatment this year reported that they were motivated to do so because of increasing bouts of addiction-related depression and guilt brought on by significant losses in their lives. The four most common types of loss were loss of family relationships, loss of self-respect or self-esteem, loss of employment and financial loss or loss of material worth.

Third, of the people surveyed, nearly 80 percent did not understand how one becomes an addict and wondered if addiction could ever be cured.

Smith said the cravings for drugs and alcohol, linked with the guilt and depression an addict experiences due to their declining quality of life and relationships with family and friends, is magnified during times when family and friends get together to socialize and interact.

“The holiday season is the time for family, and when addiction has entered into this relationship it can turn this joyous time into one of severe stress,” said Smith.

Smith said something can be done about addiction. “Most people afflicted by substance abuse do not grasp the concept of the actual mechanics of addiction, which is the first step to take in solving this problem. Once a person can fully understand what is causing a problem, solutions begin to present themselves.”

Narconon Arrowhead is gearing up its efforts to make easily understood information available for anyone who wants to learn what addiction is and what can be done about it.

The Narconon Organization has been in operation for more than 40 years, and Smith has more than 30 years of experience in the substance abuse treatment field.

For more information, call Narconon Arrowhead at (800) 4686933 or visit the website at www.stopaddiction.com.

This story is provided by Narconon of Oklahoma Inc.