About Town
Too Much Holiday 'Cheer'
Patch columnist Christine Wolf writes about her experience with an alcoholic parent in hopes that it will help other families struggling with addiction — especially during the holidays.
If you know someone who struggles with substance abuse, you know that this time of year presents excruciating challenges for those trying to manage their addictive behaviors. According to The Pat Moore Foundation, an alcohol and drug treatment center, the period from Thanksgiving to New Year's often results in increased drug and alcohol abuse, as addicts try to ignore their condition in order to participate in family gatherings and other festivities. I speak from firsthand knowledge. My biological father was an alcoholic. Growing up, I preferred my happy, jovial, light-hearted father with a cocktail in his hand, playing loud music and wobbling as he carried items to the table...until I came to understand “the pattern”: inevitably, and …
Procrustes' Foil
4:34 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Dear Christine, your story is a heartbreaking- and -all- too- familiar one. And depression often complicates holiday drinking. Saying "no" is sometimes the best response to troubled loved ones in denial. Experience truly does teach us valuable lessons. more ›