With the New Year just in, many people will be looking to address their vices with a set of resolutions.
The celebrations of the festive season may have inflamed alcohol problems for many people, so the New Year can offer a ‘fresh start’ and the chance to overcome unhealthy drinking habits.
The University of Queensland (UQ) is offering a number of free alcohol treatment programs that can help people stick to their resolutions and deal with their alcohol problems.
Professor David Kavanagh, who runs the programs, said the services they offer could be very timely in the wake of the Christmas – New Year party season because many people may have regrets about their alcohol consumption.
“We all treat ourselves a bit over Christmas, and it is tempting to really let your hair down at New Year,” he said.
“Even if you don`t usually have a problem with alcohol, you can get into strife at this time.
“But if you have had some problems with alcohol in the past, it can be an especially risky time.”
Professor Kavanagh said it was important such problems were addressed as the negative impacts they could have on a person’s life were serious and well-documented.
“Some of the first things that often happen are that they do things that are embarrassing or dangerous - for example, they may be caught drink driving, or injure themselves after drinking,” he said.
“Sometimes people become a victim of robbery or assault, or they get in a fight.
“Relationships come under stress, and there may also be problems at work - sick days, being late, or not doing the job as well.
“For some people, the cost of the alcohol produces problems, or they start neglecting responsibilities. Heavy drinking can also cause health problems, which can be very serious.”
Yet while people may have no trouble identifying an alcohol problem and making a resolution, sticking to it is another matter.
“Research shows that part of the problem is that we often set very difficult goals at New Year, and we underestimate how hard it will be to reach them,” Professor Kavanagh said.
“It is often like a fantasy of making things better, of starting over.
“Motivation may seem very high at New Year, but we may feel very differently in a few weeks time.
“If it is just an empty New Year`s resolution, we are setting ourselves up to fail. That can just make us feel that there is no point.
“It has to be something we really want to do, and that we will still want to do in a month`s time.”
For people who have alcohol problems, the negative effects of their drinking may be enough to motivate them to commit to a resolution, but Professor Kavanagh said kicking the habit could be quite a challenge.
“Changing any habit is hard, especially if there are costs in changing,” he said.
“Alcohol and other drugs are addictive, partly because they target a very powerful motivation system in our brains.
“But they are also hard to deal with, because of the situations we use them in.
“For example, we need to learn how to not to use them when we are feeling down, or when other people are offering them to us.”
The three treatment programs UQ is offering can give people the skills to help them stay on course with their New Year’s resolutions and overcome their alcohol problems.
“One of them is looking at how to help people deal with cravings for alcohol, without giving in to them.
“Another is for people who drink when they are feeling depressed. They both involve people coming to clinics.
“A third program helps people deal with alcohol, using a series of letters in the mail,” Professor Kavanagh said.
For more information, or to volunteer for any of these free alcohol treatment programs, people can call 1300 300 164 at any time.
Professor Kavanagh is from the Discipline of Psychiatry in The University of Queensland’s School of Medicine.
Media: for further information contact Lucy Manderson at UQ Communications (07 3365 2339), Project Manager Jennifer Connolly (07 3365 5149 or 0417 197 170) or Chief Investigator David Kavanagh (0419 479 227).
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