The Fourth of July is an incredibly festive time. Millions of American families come together to celebrate freedom and independence. Across the country are barbecues, festivals, celebrations and fireworks. July Fourth is also America’s top beer-drinking holiday. An estimated $1 billion dollars is spent on beer nationwide during the weekend.
Unfortunately, excessive drinking and environments promoting heavy drinking are a recipe for disaster for many people. Statistically, 17% of Indiana adults over 18 binge drink at least once per month. Being around this can be challenging for sober or newly sober individuals. Fortunately, there are practical ways for anyone to maintain sobriety.
“Generally, environments where binge drinking occurs, or recreational drug use, tend to create the perfect storm for a relapse, but there are ways to avoid this,” said Marcel Gemme of Addicted.org.
Consider some of the following tips to help maintain sobriety around this year’s July 4 holiday:
- Know and identify relapse triggers. This could be anything, such as people, places, environments, or situations. Once you can identify these, avoiding or managing them becomes much easier. Having a healthy way to handle negative feelings or emotions attached to these triggers is also critical.
- Bring sober friends to the July 4 celebrations. It’s OK to make a point of socializing with other sober people. Countless individuals choose sobriety. This can help alleviate some of the pressure of people offering you drinks. In contrast, bring non-alcoholic drinks or beverages. This can help you avoid those pesky relatives who insist you always have a drink in your hand.
- Avoid drinking games and environments that promote binge drinking or heavy alcohol use; this is likely to lead to disaster.
- Finally, have an exit plan if things become too much to manage. Set yourself up so you leave easily when you feel uncomfortable. It’s also ok to turn down invitations, and it’s a good idea to practice saying no.
Sobriety does not mean the end of fun; it means being free from the chains of addiction. This Independence Day, create new traditions and memories, celebrate freedom, and spend quality time with friends and loved ones.
Michael Leach has spent most of his career as a healthcare professional specializing in substance use disorder and addiction recovery. He is a certified clinical medical assistant and a contributor to the healthcare website Recovery Begins. Send comments to [email protected].
