As we enter the holiday season, many of us will throw or attend holiday gatherings or parties. Thanksgiving and Christmas cocktails and New Year’s plans are heavily promoted in magazines, newspapers, and Food Network shows. It is important to remember that some of our friends, family members, and neighbors may be struggling with addiction, and this time of year is always harder for them. Due to the stigma associated with substance use disorders, we may not even know they are struggling, as they are keeping a difficult secret, for fear of shame or judgment.
New and alarming research reveals that now more than ever, alcohol can be dangerous and fatal for some individuals. In September of 2025, researchers published results of an analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control’s National Vital Statistics System. The researchers reviewed yearly and monthly alcohol related deaths by gender, sex, and race. Over the span of 25 years, from 1999 to 2024, the data showed that deaths from alcohol were up 89 percent. The most common deaths that were attributable to alcohol were alcohol-related liver disease. The next most common deaths were mental disorders triggered by alcohol abuse and addiction.…
