Today, we speak to Nicholas Conn, the inspirational founder of Help4Addiction, a community-based entity offering addiction treatment across the UK.
The entity offers professional advice, alcohol detoxes and also access to 7 day and 28 day treatments to help with addiction.
With Dry January in full swing, we want to understand the background of the initiative, what it really means and how to make it most meaningful.
Tell Us, What is Dry January and Why Is It Important?
Conn: "The Dry January challenge is a campaign originally started by Alcohol Change UK in 2014 which encourages Britons to hold back from drinking alcohol for the entire month of January. Initially as a charity initiative, the idea has picked up real momentum and is widely known across the world including the US."
"There are a lot of advantages to giving up alcohol for a month, especially given that it ties in with a lot of New Years resolutions. The average Briton drinks around 14 units of alcohol per week (and around half for women) and whilst the numbers vary based on age and demographic, the general average spend on alcohol is around £800 per year, equal to £65 per month."
"In terms of the cost to the NHS, alcohol costs around £3.5 billion per year in treating addictions, related accidents and illnesses - and a significantly larger figure on society due to drunk and disorderly behavior, in the region of £27.44 billion per year. The idea that Dry January could offer savings to you, the NHS and society as a whole is very impressive."
What Do You Notice About Dry January And People With Addiction?
Conn: "The biggest issue we notice at Help4Addiction with Dry January is that people can often abstain from alcohol for a month and this might be casual drinkers or heavy drinkers, some on the cusp of needing professional help."
"Unfortunately, we see a lot of people that tend to restart drinking again in February but far too excessively, almost to compensate for lost time or because they fall back into old habits."
"In some scenarios, Dry January is more harmful to the individual because it causes them to go cold turkey and perhaps a moderating of their intake would be more sensible."
What Advice Would You Give To People Looking To Do Dry January Or Give Up Alcohol?
Conn: "The role of partners and friends is very important. You might be a regular of heavy drinker because of who you socialize with, but if you are in good company and they understand your goals, whether it is your closest friends or your spouse, this can be very important. Let's face it, when you go to AA, you immediately get a sponsor, so having this person to drive you is key."
"You can also consider trying alcoholic alternatives, especially if it is a social environment. The introduction of blue beer and mocktails can give you a social tool and no one necessarily has to know!"
"Moderation is also key. Rather than stopping completely, it might be easier to limit yourself to a certain number of drinks per week or month, compared to stopping altogether. This can have very aggressive effects on the body and mind and easing yourself might be more healthy."
