It’s that joyous time of year when family and friends come together to express gratitude and thanks for each other and all the wonderful things in their lives. Like many others across the country, the clients at Narconon Arrowhead Drug Rehabilitation center had a wonderful opportunity to do just that as they attended a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The holiday can be a stressful time—a time when many who struggle with addiction can find it hard to remain sober, or drug free. The Thanksgiving festivities, held at Narconon Arrowhead’s main facility on the shores of Lake Eufaula in southern Oklahoma, gave the residents an opportunity to celebrate with their family and friends in beautiful, safe, alcohol and drug-free environment.
The dinner included all of the time-honored fare of a Thanksgiving feast: turkey, stuffing and, of course, pumpkin pie. The evening offered those undergoing treatment a chance to reconnect with loved ones when they otherwise might have spent the holiday alone. And because of the sometimes alienating effects substance abuse can have on personal and familial relationships, many of the residents were happy to be with loved ones they had not seen in a long time, bringing renewed hope for the future.
It was quickly apparent how emotional it was for those at the dinner to see the progress their family members have made during treatment. Narconon Arrowhead is a holistic, drug-free treatment facility—meaning it does not use replacement drugs to treat the primary addiction. This is very important as the treatment programs that replace one drug for another will just leave a person battling another addiction in the end. Additionally, the program helps rid the person of any residual drugs or alcohol they have been abusing, leaving the person feeling clean and clear of any lingering effects. The program also teaches those in the throes of substance abuse how to not only rid themselves physically of the drugs and toxins they fell prey to, but how to live their life drug free from that point forward. This is something to be thankful for indeed.
Thanksgiving Can Be a “High Risk” Holiday
Because Thanksgiving Day rings in the start of the holiday season, it can be the hardest time of the year for those battling addiction. Overwhelming responsibilities, stressful relationships, and festive gatherings that provide easy access to wine and spirits (and sometimes drugs) can be hard to navigate for those inclined toward addiction. At Narconon Arrowhead, the therapeutic value of strengthening family unity when facing a battle against drug or alcohol addiction has been long known. Providing the annual Thanksgiving dinner for the residents and their family and friends helps to bolster the resident’s momentum in overcoming their addictions. It can make all the difference to their success during this time.
If you have a loved one who is currently fighting against drug or alcohol addiction, don’t spare any time at all in getting them enrolled into treatment, before they find themselves in the midst of the holiday season. Studies show that despondency and hopelessness, overwhelming feelings, domestic violence and even drunk-driving accidents all increase during this time of year. Abusers can find themselves needing to consume substances in order to make dealing with the stressors easier.
If someone you love is struggling with addiction, the wrong thing to do is to let them go through the holiday without proper treatment. It could mean the difference between life and death. In keeping with the spirit of the season, get them into treatment. You’ll potentially save their life—and be thankful you did.