Healthy Through the Holidays
Tri-County Newsletter
Recovery Resolutions
New Year’s Resolutions
Whether you are in recovery, looking to get into recovery from substance use or just plain want to be healthy, here are some resolutions recommended by Waypoint Recovery Center.
- Write in your journal for 15-20 minutes a day. Journaling helps people process emotions and can bring consciousness, clarity and coherence to one's life.
- Exercise for 30 minutes per day. Exercise can improve your strength, increase your energy and raise your endorphin levels.
- Learn a new sober hobby. Part of being in recovery means finding new ways to enjoy your free time without drugs, alcohol or self-defeating behaviors. You might want to try: cooking classes, trying your hand at art or, or learning to play the guitar.
- Connect to something bigger than yourself. Whether it is spirituality, religion, a higher power, mindfulness, or some other way to expand your horizons, explore new sources of support for your new lifestyle.
- Schedule quality time with friends or family members at least once per week. Repairing old relationships is an important part of recovery as well as building new supportive relationships. Take baby steps towards stronger bonds in your life by prioritizing quality time for relationship-building.
- Perform a random act of kindness or selfless service each day. Substance use can make one self-focused. Helping others can boost your self-confidence and improve relationships with those around you.
- Ask for help when you need it. Substance Use Disorder is a chronic illness, not a moral failing. If you’re feeling the urge to use, call your sponsor, a friend, or another supportive person. If you are considering skipping a therapy appointment because you don’t have transportation, call a friend who has been supportive of your recovery and ask for a ride. Putting yourself out there may be uncomfortable at first, but it’s a necessary step in the recovery process.
- Celebrate your successes. Avoid being critical of your failures. Recovery is a process and requires a growth mindset. Obstacles are to be expected. You may make mistakes along the way but it is progress not perfection that counts.
Holiday Safe Driving Campaign
This holiday season: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over; Enforcement campaign encourages safe, sober driving
An Article by the Michigan State Police
Ugly sweaters. Holiday parties. Family gatherings. The holidays are a busy time to celebrate the season with family, friends and co-workers. But it is also one of the deadliest times of year for drunk- and drugged- driving fatalities. That is why law enforcement officers, in partnership with the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), are working to encourage safe, sober driving this holiday season.
The national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs from December 13 - 31. During this period, law enforcement officers will show zero tolerance for drunk and drugged driving statewide. Increased enforcement, along with increased messages about the dangers of impaired driving, aim to drastically reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the roadways.
“Driving while impaired by any substance - alcohol or drugs - is illegal and can have deadly consequences,” said Michael L. Prince, Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) director. “It’s important for people to understand they need to make the smart decision to drive sober. If you’re out celebrating this holiday season, or any day, it’s crucial to plan a safe way home.”
In Michigan, impaired driving represented 45.7 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2017. There were 937 fatal crashes in Michigan in 2017, of which 320 (34.2 percent) were alcohol-related. The percentage of alcohol-related fatalities was approximately 11.6 times higher than fatalities in all other crashes.
In addition, there were 174 drivers who tested positive for cannabinoid drug use involved in 169 motor vehicle crashes in 2017 in Michigan. Of those crashes, there were 144 fatalities and 156 persons were injured.
Contact: Kari Arend 517-284-3045
Read the rest of the MSP article here.
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Newsletter Brought to you by:
Eaton County Substance Awareness Advisory Group (ECSAAG)
Email: ecsaag@eatonresa.org
Website: www.eatondrugfree.org
Location: Eaton Regional Education Service Agency, 1790 Packard Highway, Charlotte, MI 48813
Phone: 517-541-8912
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ECSAAG/