AHS Views

The holiday season is, among other, but good, things, a time to watch our friends and relatives who need alcohol addiction help knock over our Christmas tree, ruin our freshly cleaned carpet with egg nog and gravy spills, get fresh with our young nieces, get maudlin over the past and generally embarrass the rest of the family and make us uncomfortable.

It is also the season for alcohol-related deaths, accidents and arrests - and one of them could involve than annoying family member that you’re politely putting up with.

Most of us won’t say a word – not while we have company. And very few of us would ever consider taking the offender to a center where they can get addiction help. After all, it’s Christmas. Everything’s supposed to be peaceful, loving and beautiful. This is the time we forgive each other – or at least pretend to – and we leave the problem as it is, vowing that we’ll do something about it in the new year. But, usually, we don’t.

Does this seem somewhat misguided? Are we really doing that person a favor by letting them continue on their path of destruction? Are we really helping them, or their family or friends, by letting them ruin the holiday?

Wouldn’t it be more pleasant all around if the alcoholic was celebrating Christmas by getting clean and sober? By the time New Year’s Eve rolls around, the person would be through the detox end of things and actually looking at the world through less of a haze and able to make some New Year’s resolutions with teeth.

But people feel bad – as if they’re doing the person a disservice, somehow spoiling their fun – if they pack them off to rehab during the holidays. Geez, that’s the best Christmas present you could give them.

Find a nice addiction help services center with a good environment. Visit them, bring the family, bring them presents and turkey, and know you gave them the best present of all – a chance to get their life back.