The activity of taking the start of the calendar year to kick off some positive lifestyle change is far from new. Indeed, some argue it goes back as far as 4,000 years to the Babylonians. There is, however, a sense of an added poignancy, but also disregard for those in recovery, and recovery communities. It is this contradiction that is the focus of this blog.
I see at this time of year on social media, many anniversaries of those celebrating their sobriety. It seems that some folk maintain the new year kick start into long-term recovery. Brilliant.
Perhaps this comes as no surprise. In that it often follows the binge and chaos of Christmas-related festivities. It also follows a focus on absences, losses and relationships, and provides a stimulus to regain that which has been lost to drink or drugs. It is also a really timely and often helpful injection of a next phase or new goal for those already in recovery. The taking up of running, the moving of house, the starting of education, etc. In all these contexts, new year’s resolutions appear as reasons to celebrate and opportunities for long-lasting change.
But here in also lies some of the contradictions and some of my unease. Most obviously because so many new year resolutions are often short-lived, before returns to older unhealthy habits. Changing one’s relationship with drink or drugs needs to really come from an internal place of motivation and be supported by others, rather than perhaps a momentary commitment. If a new year resolution is the kick start to something already in the offing, then it appears a great opportunity and a good as any starting point.
In addition, it is some other bits of the picture that give me rise for concern.
I want to start with ‘Dry January’ and ‘Sober October’. These windows, which have almost become business opportunities for certain organisations, all to often portray simple solutions to complex behaviours. While all bodies and minds can do with a break, and moderation is good for all. I am a supporter of harm reduction and recovery. I do not see them as opposed. One is required to create the opportunity for the other.
These organised campaigns, always feel to me like they come with an implied pre- and post-loading window, notably the Christmas binge and the spring BBQ. It would be so much better to see the campaigns framed in sustainable long-term manner, rather than a short-term respite.
Secondly, they seem to focus on the legal and acceptable substance of alcohol and are by default a process that seems to reinforce ‘us and them’ boundaries between normal and excessive drinkers and those who take illegal drugs. They unwittingly foster further stigmatisation of drug users.
I also have some anxiety, that it promotes a notion of the alcohol (and drug use) as the problem. When we know for so many that they are the solution, the coping mechanism, albeit gone wrong, for so many of life’s other ills. The conversations never really seem to explore and address the ‘why?’ of too much drink or drug use.
I of course do not see the new year resolutions in others I would like. Namely, the government to properly fund the third sector, small charities and recovery organisations. The treatment world to better embrace recovery communities and those with lived and living experience as the long-term sustainable solution to ending the revolving door of alcohol and drug crisis presentations. The academic world to value that research which puts ‘voice’ on an equal footing to big number research and medical controlled trials. And if I did they would surely be as hollow as the ballot box promises.
I have my own new year’s resolutions in this context. They are simple. They come from my internal motivation and require me to be with, and work with, others. They are quite simply (i) to support recovery communities and those within, when and wherever I can, and (ii) keep banging on about the value of such.
It is good to make these resolutions; but we should just be very clear why we are doing so, and what it is we want to achieve.