Page 10 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024 Holiday stress can lead to heavy alcohol use T he average person takes advantage of the downtime during the holiday season. As long as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s have been celebrated, most people seize the opportunity to unwind, indulge and participate in holiday cheer, especially with alcohol. During prohibition years and in modern times, using alcohol to celebrate the holidays has never slowed. Yet, the general attitude towards moderation has changed as we better know the short- and longterm health impacts of alcohol use; the average American adult is not drinking excessively daily, weekly or monthly. Most people know alcohol is damaging to your mind and body; however, overindulgence is often encouraged during the holidays, and moderation and our knowledge of it sometimes conveniently no longer exists. A big reason for this is that even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most individuals and families. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly nine in 10 Americans say that concerns like not having enough money, missing loved ones, and family confl ict cause them stress during this time of year. Unfortunately, close to two in five adults who experience stress during the holiday season said they use harmful coping mechanisms, such as drugs and alcohol. While most agree that the holiday season is a positive experience, we are often encouraged to manage stress by overindulging in things like alcohol, food or even drugs, and this has never changed in our society. Advertising is geared to play on this; bars, restaurants, liquor stores and alcohol suppliers know alcohol sales increase at this time of year, and the messaging is simple — buy our product and celebrate the festive season. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), 21.1% of Massachusetts adults over 18 binge drink at least once per month. The median number of drinks per binge is 5.4, and the 25% of active drinkers in the state consume a median of seven drinks per binge. Unfortunately, there is an average of 2,760 annual deaths in Massachusetts attributable to excessive alcohol use. There are strategies and resources to help. For example, on the state’s offi cial website, resources for children and families, such as the Samaritans Statewide Helpline (1877-870-4673), are available to anyone in Massachusetts who is in need of emotional support. Alternatively, you can text or call 988, the crisis lifeline, to talk to someone. During the holidays, pay attention to your feelings and develop a plan for when you are feeling stressed, sad or lonely. Avoid alcohol and drugs; while this is easier said than done for some people, the holiday season presents challenges that can trigger the use of alcohol. It’s wise to recognize these triggers and avoid alcohol. If you are struggling, focus on practicing self-care and remaining connected with your friends, family or local community. Feelings can amplify for some people this time of year, making it necessary to support others. Attend your local faith community, support group, community centers or local meetups. Most importantly, know when to seek help. This can be especially important for anyone already struggling with a substance use disorder or mental health issues. Going big with your holiday decorations? BBB warns, ‘Don’t fall for this scam’ I f you plan to get festive with your Christmas or other holiday decorations, keep your eyes open for this scam. Each year the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker receives complaints during the holiday season about false advertisements and phony promises for holiday decor. How this scam works: You are searching online for some holiday decorations for your home or lawn. You fi nd the perfect item through a social media ad or a search result. The photos on the website look great! The decorations are largerthan-life with incredible lights and features and, best of all, low prices. You make your payment and wait for the decorations to arrive; however, when your package is delivered, the product is nothing like what you saw online. Instead, it’s a poorly manufactured miniature version of what you thought you bought. In many cases, you might not receive the items at all. You now don’t have a way to return the items or receive a refund. In fact, you probably won’t even be able to contact the company. One consumer reported the following experience: “I ordered some very large displays at a great price. After more than expected and several emails they said my order was shipped. I found tracking # and tracked it to a very small town in NC and the package had been delivered to a mailbox via USPS. These would not fi t in a mailbox and the company will not refund until the merchandise is returned.” This consumer reported losing $98. How to avoid similar scams • Do your research before you buy. Before you purchase on an unfamiliar website, check out the company. Make sure they have working contact information. This should include a telephone number, email address and, preferably, a physical address. Look on other websites for reviews of the company and reports of scams. You can always look for business ratings and customer reviews on BBB.org. • Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Keep in mind that large decorations that involve special lights and technology are expensive and might be costly to ship, too. If you fi nd something amazing for cheap, it could be a scam. • Don’t make quick purchases on social media. Scam advertisers can track your buying habits from social media ads and target you with specifi c products they think you’ll fall for. Don’t buy anything on impulse while scrolling through your feed. Do research fi rst to avoid getting scammed. • Always use your credit card for online purchases. Credit card companies allow you to dispute fraudulent charges, a resource you might not have if you purchase an item with a debit or gift card. If you’re being asked to pay via wire transfer, a prepaid gift card, or a digital wallet app, it could be a scam. Review a BBB tip about more ways to protect yourself from scams during holiday shopping at https://www.bbb.org/article/ news-releases/23348-shop-holiday-season. Find more consumer tips at BBB.org. S Nickolaus Hayes is a healthcare professional in the fi eld of substance use and addiction recovery and is part of the editorial team at DRS. His primary focus is spreading awareness by educating individuals on the topics surrounding substance use. Don’t let the holidays become something you dread. While society tells us to indulge in certain things and throw care and caution to the wind, we can choose not to listen. Focus on the more authentic meanings of the holiday season and encourage others to do the same. Help us keep your letter carriers safe now in New England can be a beautiful sight as it glistens on the lawn, decorates tree limbs and adds a sense of wonder to the holidays. It can come as a blessing for skiers, plow drivers and kids yearning for a schoolfree snow day. But for postal letter carriers and other delivery personnel, it can be a nightmare. Icy walkways, wet leaves and rakes, toys or other trip hazards hidden under the snow can cause injury to a carrier trying to navigate a path to your mailbox. Keeping your walkway clear of snow, ice and other obstacles can not only protect people delivering to your home, but it can also help you avoid potential insurance claims or lawsuits resulting from slip and fall injuries sustained on your property. Likewise, if your home is serviced by a curbside mailbox, keeping a clear path to and from your box is each homeowner’s responsibility. Letter carriers are committed to delivering to every address every day, provided that it’s safe to do so. With your help creating a safe environment, we can keep the mail moving and make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the day. On behalf of the more than 660,000 postal employees nationwide, we wish you a Joyous Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
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