Source: AMS

Stress Means 27% More Drinking

Newly released data shows 27% more drinking, even for offenders monitored 24/7

Press Release: Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. – 31 minutes ago.. .
 

Contact your PRC to learn what you can do to be a proactive positive influence during the Holidays! More resource links are listed below the story. (posting of links does not mean an endorsement by PRC/ETCADA)

DENVER , Nov. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Newly released data that looks at the drinking patterns of more than 200,000 criminal offenders monitored 24/7 for alcohol consumption shows that even when Big Brother is watching, drinking increases nearly 27% between Thanksgiving and January 2nd .

Denver -based Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc., (AMS) has monitored more than 200,000 criminal offenders since 2003 using a technology that tests your perspiration every 30 minutes, 24/7, to ensure clients are abstaining from alcohol. According to AMS, the rate of daily violations for offenders monitored with their technology jumps a whopping 27% during the holiday season. AMS Chairman and CEO Mike Iiams says that the trending highlights how the pressures—and the pleasures—of the holiday season are difficult for everyone. "Whether it's your in-laws or the economy or just temptations at the office party, the fact that we see such a statistically significant increase in violations for a group of people who are being tested—and know they are being tested—every 30 minutes for drinking underscores just how difficult an issue this is," says Iiams. Larry Vanderwoude , LCDC, CEO of Dallas -based Recovery Healthcare, agrees. "Emotions run very high during the holiday season, especially when it comes to meeting family expectations. And the natural coping skill for the alcoholic is to drink," says Vanderwoude. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that two to three times more people are killed by drunk drivers during the holidays than any other time during the year. 

According to AMS, which has monitored offenders in 48 states with its SCRAMx System (for Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor), as the company enters its 8th year providing monitoring during the holiday season, the courts seem to have two approaches for addressing the social and behavioral issues that go hand-in-hand with the holiday season. "Some programs, usually dealing with lower risk offenders, may opt to give people a break during the holidays, lightening up on some requirements or delaying them until after the first of the year," says Iiams. "But each year, the courts dealing with the highest risk alcohol offenders clamp down even harder on the drinking during the holidays," he says. "They know if these offenders aren't drinking, then they're not drinking and driving, and they're not drinking and abusing a spouse or child," he adds. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, 75% of cases of domestic violence involve an offender who was drunk at the time of the offense.

To Iiams, their data trending, which is based on more than 18 million alcohol tests, serves as a cautionary tale for both courts and communities. "These are the hardcore drinkers who know they're going to get caught and that there will be consequences, and they're still struggling not to drink during the holidays. Imagine what's happening with the ones who know they can get away with it," he says. Vanderwoude, whose company has monitored more than 17,000 offenders in Texas and Oklahoma with the SCRAMx System, says that the intensive monitoring they provide during the holidays can actually provide a sense of security for both the courts and even many of their clients. "It's a type of safety net, working to deter relapse during the hardest time of the year," he says. "The ones that drink get caught, and there can be a sense of relief in knowing that for people who really struggle with addiction. But the ones that stay sober through the season often report that it's the most rewarding and cherished holiday of their life," he adds.

About Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc.

Established in 1997, AMS is the world's largest provider of Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) technology. AMS manufactures SCRAMx, which uses non-invasive transdermal analysis to monitor alcohol consumption and integrates home detention monitoring into a single anklet. SCRAMx fully automates the alcohol testing and reporting process, providing courts and community corrections agencies with the ability to continuously monitor alcohol offenders, increase offender accountability and assess compliance with sentencing requirements and treatment guidelines. AMS employs 126 people across the U.S. and is a privately-held company headquartered in Littleton, Colorado .

MORE LINKS:

http://talkrehab.org/staying-sober-during-the-holidays/
The holidays are fast approaching and for a recovering alcoholic staying sober during the holidays can be difficult while trying to control the temptation to have a drink. Many factors contribute to this – holiday parties, the expectation to have a glass of wine or toast – and of course memories of many years passed of indulging in alcohol during the holidays.

While it may be okay for some recovered alcoholics to have ONE GLASS of wine for example after a long period of continued sobriety, unless you have been sober for a year or longer, its best to avoid alcohol altogether, since limiting yourself to just one drink or one occurrence can be very difficult.

Here are some tips for staying sober during the holidays:

1. Have Excuses Ready: There is often a lot of pressure for someone to drink during the holidays – or many hosts may even just casually offer an alcoholic drink. Have a list of reasons why you do not want a drink and practice saying them out loud. Good excuses include “I’m driving” and “Ah, it’ll just put me to sleep”. Maybe you have to work in the morning? Be creative and you’ll be sure to find a few good reasons why not to drink that your hosts should graciously understand without getting into your rehab story.

2. Have a Substitute: Just because you’re not drinking alcohol doesn’t mean your drinks can’t still be fun. Go for a flavored coffee, add a cherry or lime to your soda, and even enjoy it in a fancy glass. There are plenty of great non-alcoholic drinks to make (see our list coming soon!). Also, once you get past the initial offer, chances are no one is really going to take much attention to what you’re drinking anyway. (Unless it looks so good they want one too!)

3. Give Your Mind Rest: The holidays can be stressful for many people, from the usual family demands to even Christmas shopping. Some people just have a natural depression around holiday time, especially if it reminds them of people who are no longer around to enjoy it with. Be sure you talk to someone about any stress or feelings you have, as well as use healthy ways to alleviate stress and anxiety.

4. Keep Busy: Plan some fun activities you might enjoy that don’t involve alcohol – baking cookies or going to see holiday shows or displays can be a fun way to forget about drinking all together. Volunteering during the holidays can also be a very rewarding way to help others as well as meet and make new friends.

The holidays can be a wonderful time to celebrate – so however you do it remember that it doesn’t need to be about drinking to have fun – and you might be surprised your first sober holidays can be some of your happiest moments!

http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/holiday-temptations-for-alcoholics/
Holiday Temptations for Alcoholics

Overindulgence during the Holiday Season

The holiday season is traditionally a time when people like to let their hair down. Christmas has significant religious importance for many, as well as the advent of the new year. But these celebrations are important for other reasons as well. In northern countries, the winter tends to be long and hard. Some people become depressed because of it, a phenomena known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. The celebrations in December help to lift people’s mood. Even those individuals who hardly touch alcohol during the rest of the year may overindulge during the holiday season. There is far more acceptance of intoxication at this time of year.

Some individuals find the holiday season to be a real challenge. Those who are recovering alcoholics will be surrounded by temptation. There can also be plenty of pressure to drink alcohol. Those who are in early recovery tend to struggle particularly hard. The holiday seasons can also be an emotional time when family tensions rise to the surface. Any sober individual who does not feel strong at this time of year will have no problem finding justifications to relapse.

Holiday Season Dangers for Recovering Alcoholics

The holiday season can be the source of a number of potential dangers for recovering alcoholics including:
This is often the favorite time of year for practicing alcoholics. There is plenty of drinking events and their drunken exploits will be less censured. Those in recovery are likely to strongly associate the holiday season with drinking. During this period there will be constant reminders of what they are missing.
This is a time of celebratory work functions. There tends to be plenty of alcohol available at these events. Those who are in recovery may be under pressure to drink as work colleagues encourage them to join in the fun. There will also be the justification that they deserve to have a few drinks because they have been working hard all year.
It is usual for family celebrations to revolve around the consumption of alcohol during the holidays.
It is common to bump into people from the past at this time of year. Old drinking buddies may tempt the sober individual to revisit the good old days.
People in recovery can get a vicarious type of pleasure from watching other people drink alcohol. This is dangerous because it leads back to the old ways of thinking.
There tends to be more media coverage promoting alcohol.
Families will usually spend more time with each other during the holidays. There can be arguments and stress. People who are struggling with their sobriety may use this as an excuse to relapse.
If people are estranged from family and friends they may find the holiday season to be a particularly lonely time. This can be another excuse to drink again.

The Need to Avoid Social Functions Where Alcohol is Available

It is recommended that people in early recovery try to completely avoid all social functions where alcohol is served. They may be able to handle it but going to these events could be considered too much of a risk. It is like playing with fire. There are even those individuals who have been sober for many years but continue to avoid these parties. This may be an effective tactic, but it probably won’t work for everyone. People will have obligations and reasonable justifications for going to these functions.

How to Manage Temptation during the Holiday Season

There are a number of ways that people in recovery can manage temptation during the holiday season such as:
Those who belong to AA may want to increase their attendance at meetings at this time of year. They will gain support from the other members and will be able to talk about any concerns. Lots of other people in the meetings will share similar concerns, and there can be a great strength in numbers.
There are usually plenty of events on during the holiday seasons where alcohol is not served. There are usually dances and social occasions specifically aimed at people in recovery.
Now is a good time of year to focus more on recovery. This can be done by reading books related to recovery or other inspirational material.
Helping other people is probably the most effective thing that anyone can do during the holiday season to protect their own sobriety. It allows the individual to move the focus away from their own problems, and it builds self-esteem because they feel they are doing something useful. There is also just a great joy to be found by being of service to other people. The holiday season is when plenty of alcoholics hit rock bottom so helpers are always needed.
There is no need for people in recovery to feel left out of the celebrations. Alcohol is not needed to have a good time. If there are no sober parties taking place locally there is no reasons why people will not be able to organize their own.
If people feel that the holiday season is too much to handle then they may find that a sympathetic ear will can be a great help. There are a number of emergency telephone hotlines for those in recovery who may be struggling at this time of year.

How to Deal with Social Functions during the Holiday Season

Sometimes it can be difficult to completely avoid parties and get-togethers where alcohol is served. Here are a few ideas for how people can protect their sobriety at such events:
Most of the hard drinking tends to take place near the end of these functions as people become more inebriated. It is therefore advisable to leave early. Inebriated people appear boring to those who are sober anyway so leaving early does not mean missing out on much.
When people drink heavily they just assume that the same is true for everyone around them. They tend not to notice those other individuals who have no interest in getting drunk. There are usually at least a few people who will not be drinking at these events. Most will not be recovering alcoholics; they just do not like alcohol. It can be inspiring for newly sober people to see these non-drinkers have a good time.
Sober people usually have to deal with people asking why they are not drinking. It helps to have a reply ready. There is no obligation to provide a personal life story to these people. Sometimes the best approach is to just say, “I do not drink alcohol”, and then refuse to go any deeper into that conversation.
It is a good idea to practice saying no to alcohol. Some people will be persistent in their attempts to get everyone to drink alcohol. It is a good idea to practice how to fend such individuals off.
Those who are newly sober can find support by bringing along a friend in recovery. It is important that this other individual is firmly established in sobriety or else both people could be at risk of relapse. Those who belong to AA may be able to get their sponsor to agree to come to the event.
It can be helpful if people bring along some recovery resources with them to these functions. This is easier with modern technology such as the iPhone. There are now many apps that can provide inspiration when it is most needed.
If people begin to experience any thoughts of relapse they need to leave the event immediately. They should then take immediate action to protect their sobriety. This could involve attending an AA meeting, ringing a therapist, or contacting a sponsor.

Dealing with a Slip During the Holiday Season

A slip occurs when a recovering alcoholic drinks on the spur of the moment. There is a high risk of this occurring during the holiday season if people are not firmly committed to sobriety. A slip can easily lead to a full-blown return to addiction so it needs to be managed effectively. The individual who has a slip should:
Stop drinking immediately. There is a temptation to justify continued drinking with the idea, “well I’ve already done it so I might as well try to enjoy it”. The longer the individual continues to drink the less likely they will be to return to sobriety.
Seek immediate help. This can involve contacting a therapist or going to a fellowship meeting.
Redouble efforts in recovery. If people have a slip it is a sign that they have gone off course. They will need to put more effort into their recovery in order to avoid a return to their addiction.

www.Prweb.com
The holidays are a time of fun and frivolity for many, but for recovering alcoholics they are also a time of danger. The AcloholismResources.com Guide to Staying Sober During the Holidays offers alcoholics and family members assistance in making sure that they come through the holidays healthy and in a state of continued sobriety.
Evidence suggest that up to 90% of those in recovery from alcohol will experience at least one significant drinking episode in the first four years after treatment. Though the percentage of those who will relapse in later years declines over time it remains a significant risk for many recovering individuals. With its guide to surviving the holidays for alcoholics AlcoholismResources.com hopes to help alcoholics avoid relapse during the season of holiday cheer.

According to the website the holidays can seem like a giant low pressure system trying to envelope the alcoholic, as many factors conspire to lead those in recovery from alcoholism back into problem drinking. The site lists stress, loneliness, high-risk environments and environmental cues and sugar as all coming together to make the "perfect storm" for relapse.
In its "Guide to Staying Sober During the Holidays" AlcoholismResources.com offers practical advice that elucidates how support, stress reduction, pre-identifying relapse warning signs, preparing "sobriety scripts" and diet play important roles in helping maintain sobriety over the holidays.

The guide also offers family members and loved ones of alcoholics practical suggestions for how to help the alcoholic stay sober. According to the site families sometimes unwittingly contribute to the alcoholics relapse. It suggests that there are steps the family can take to support the alcoholic.

About Alcoholism Resources: http://www.AlcoholismResources.com is an informational site whose primary mission in helping alcoholics, family members and loved ones understand the disease of alcoholism, find treatment and negotiate early sobriety. AlcoholismResources.com does not offer medical advice or diagnosis.
The Guide to Staying Sober During the Holidays can be can be downloaded at http://www.alcoholismresources.com/sober_holidays_guide.pdf