Carving turkey at the table. Hanging stockings by the fire. Dropping off a loved one at rehab? Drug and alcohol addiction treatment doesn’t usually feature in depictions of a happy holiday, but getting someone the addiction help they need can be the greatest gift they ever get. Here are 4 reasons why you should consider helping a loved one enter residential addiction treatment during the holiday season.
In one survey of 100 million individuals, Axial Healthcare found that overdose rates rose 22% during the holidays. Sadly, many of those are fatal. CDC data shows that drug- and alcohol-related deaths spike in December and January. Drunk driving crashes also rise during the month of December, causing every President since Ronald Reagan to proclaim December National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.
It’s horrible to even think about, but be honest with yourself: If you wait until after the holiday season to get help for your loved one, you might not ever get that chance.
One of the most common symptoms of substance use disorder is denial — both in the person struggling and in the people around them. You may be reluctant to send your loved one to residential addiction treatment during the holidays because you don’t want to have them miss out on family time and traditions. However, if you’re really honest with yourself you might be able to admit that substance use disorder has kept your family from having a happy holiday for many years now.
Whether due to tensions or intoxication, fights, blowups, and stony silences are all to be expected when you give addiction a seat at the holiday table. If your loved one goes to residential addiction treatment this holiday season, you’ll certainly miss them; but, you won’t miss all of the negative side effects that come along with their addiction. Plus, treatment can help ensure that your next family holiday is a happy one.
For many people, the holidays are an ideal time to pursue addiction treatment because work schedules are on the wane. Many industries and professions slow down over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year, making it an ideal time to take off. Even if a loved one’s job is busy during the holidays, though, there still are options. Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) or PHP (partial hospitalization programs) for addiction treatment allow people to live at home during treatment, fitting in work or school schedules with more flexibility.
On January 1, the deductible for insurance plans resets, starting from scratch. December could be your last chance to get your loved one into treatment with maximum coverage from your insurance company. If you’re not sure what your insurance will cover, call our admissions team or send a chat. They can verify your benefits and let you know up-front what to expect when paying for addiction treatment.
If you’re still struggling with the idea of putting a loved one into treatment this holiday season, reach out. You’re not alone, and our team can listen to your story and walk you through the pros and cons of each scenario. Isn’t it time that you let new hope bloom this holiday?