Striving for sobriety during the holidays

COEUR d'ALENE — For many, the days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve can be bright and merry, but there’s also the possibility of stress taking root and disrupting people’s battles to achieve or maintain sobriety.

Dr. Magdelena Greene is the medical director of the detox unit at the North Idaho Crisis Center and said that people often seek stress relief through alcohol or other substances while navigating conflicts or personal/societal pressures. 

During this time of year, the crisis center often sees an increase in calls, partly stemming from a hike in drug or alcohol issues, but also because high-stress gatherings can make family members aware that substance use has developed into a problem.