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The holidays present many challenges to people in recovery with family stress, parties and for some, painful feelings. Actual statistics support the notion that Holiday Relapse is a real concern. A study performed by Mark Goldman and colleagues that was published in Psychology of Addictive behaviors sought to track young adult drinking for a full 52 weeks. They then plotted the data and showed that there was a marked increase in drinks taken on Thanksgiving and an even more dramatic increase on New Year’s Eve. There was a small spike right before Christmas as well (Goldman M. et al., Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 2011 Mar; 25(1): 16–27.). New Year’s Eve brings another time of concern. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that about 36 fatalities on average occur each day as a result of inebriated drivers. This number jumps to 45 per day around Christmas time and almost doubles to 54 during New Years.

Recovery is a priority and it needn’t be knocked down by predictable situations and temptations. Parkside’s expert on Substance-use Disorders and treatment, Stevi Harper, LPC, LADC was asked for a few suggestions on maintaining recovery through the holidays and offered the following:

First, recognize those situations that come with risk. Choose any holiday parties wisely. Stay off those “slippery slopes” and avoid situations you know will have free-flowing alcohol or old friends who may not be supportive of your recovery. Be mindful of triggers that lead to drinking.

Second, have a plan. If you must be in a situation with alcohol risk, try to bring a sober friend to hold you accountable. Have an exit plan. You can be prepared to extricate yourself if the situation is becoming stressful or you find yourself at risk of relapse. Be prepared to effectively deal with family stress. You might also consider making and bringing your own non-alcoholic beverage to avoid any temptations and have predictable refreshment.

Finally, cope with it. Addiction relapse doesn’t need to be a part of your holiday story or memories. Surround yourself with people who support your recovery and who are also staying sober over the holidays. Choose to attend recovery meetings. Be prepared to deal with lonely or stressful situations by having a trusted person to call. Keep busy with volunteer activities, working out and taking care of yourself. Keep a healthy schedule, eat right, get good sleep and create good holiday memories that supported your recovery. If you do find yourself in the situation where you have relapsed, pick yourself up and get back to working your relapse prevention plan. Parkside is here to help and can get you back on plan if need be.

(Tulsa, OK) Parkside Psychiatric Hospital & Clinic (Parkside) will host Jennifer Sweeton, Ph.D., from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 16 for professional education centered on the neuroscience of trauma, addiction, and medical illness. The event, which will take place in the Perkins Auditorium at the OU Schusterman Center, is now open for registration. Cost is $75 and provides six continuing education units for mental health professionals. Students can also purchase tickets for $30.

Dr. Sweeton’s seminar, titled “Addiction, Medical Illness and Trauma: Brain-Changing Techniques for Recovery,” will share the most up-to-date research discoveries on the neuroscience of trauma, addiction, and medical illness. Cognitive, affective, and social neuroscience research provides profound insight into the brain changes humans are capable of producing, as well as how adverse childhood experiences, and trauma more broadly, may negatively impact the brain. Participants will learn highly effective psychotherapy techniques they can begin using immediately to help clients recover.

Dr. Sweeton is a licensed clinical psychologist and internationally-recognized expert on anxiety and trauma, women’s issues, and the neuroscience of mental health. She completed her doctoral training at the Stanford University School of Medicine, the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, and the National Center for PTSD. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in affective neuroscience from Stanford University and studied behavioral genetics at Harvard University.

Parkside, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit, mental and behavioral healthcare provider offering inpatient and outpatient care to those in need across Eastern Oklahoma. More information and conference registration is available at www.parksideinc.org.

(Tulsa, OK) Parkside Psychiatric Hospital & Clinic (Parkside) will host David R. Gastfriend, M.D., from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 10 for professional education centered on addiction medicine. The event, which will take place in the Perkins Auditorium at the OU Schusterman Center, is now open for registration. Cost is $89 before March 1 and provides six continuing education units for mental health professionals.

Dr. Gastfriend’s presentation is titled “Addiction Treatment in the Age of Science, Healthcare Reform and Epidemics.” Addiction treatment can draw on a considerable body of evidence in the age of science, and healthcare reform offers new opportunities for coverage and longitudinal care. The biggest challenge in the era of a national drug epidemic is implementation of these behavioral treatments and pharmacotherapies. This workshop will review the leading approaches, clinical guidelines, new technologies, and paths to adoption. The opportunity now exists to achieve high levels of long-term success in addiction treatment, thereby demonstrating that patients and families can expect results similar to what is found elsewhere in modern healthcare, and thereby finally overcoming our long-term societal stigma.

Dr. Gastfriend is Scientific Advisor at the Treatment Research Institute. He directed addiction research at Massachusetts General Hospital and was an investigator on studies with the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. As Vice President at Alkermes, Inc., he directed publications on Vivitrol research. His American Society of Addiction Medicine Criteria research contributed to their endorsement by most U.S. states and the Departments of Veterans Affairs. He has produced 150 scientific publications.

Parkside, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit, mental and behavioral healthcare provider offering inpatient and outpatient care to those in need across Eastern Oklahoma. More information and conference registration is available at www.parksideinc.org.

Parkside Psychiatric Hospital & Clinic was named in “100 Great Places to Work in Healthcare” by Becker’s Hospital Review, a well respected health care industry publication and considered the leading source of cutting edge business and legal information for hospital and health system leaders. According to Beckers, “The 2013 list was developed through nominations and editorial research, and organizations were chosen for their robust benefits, wellness initiatives, professional development opportunities and work environments that promote employee collaboration and satisfaction.” According to the listing on Becker’s website, Parkside was named to the listing because of initiatives like the “By Your Side” program, which offers patients and their families emergency assistance for essentials like food, clothing and school supplies through volunteer-staffed programs. Parkside offers a rich array of employee benefits including employer-sponsored health insurance plans, flexible health spending accounts, employer-matched 401(k) plans and low-cost health club membership. In addition, the hospital hosts the “Knowledge is a Bonus” program, under which employees are presented monthly learning opportunities on anything from psychiatry to general healthcare to healthy living. Employees can take a test at year’s end, with the highest performer earning a $1,000 bonus. Other hospitals named in the listing include the prestigious Mayo Clinic and the Duke University Health System. Becker’s Hospital Review states the selection process involves a compilation of all the nominations, which are then evaluated by the publications editorial team on a number of criteria, including employee benefits, employee satisfaction awards or recognitions, success stories from employees and other factors. After receiving feedback from a panel of healthcare industry veterans, Becker’s selects what they determine to be 100 of the best places to work.

See the Becker’s website for the complete listing of 100 Great Places To Work in Healthcare