Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow, but for many the holiday begins at the close of business today. Many of us will be traveling through the night to be with our loved ones tomorrow afternoon for a good wholesome meal and to watch football on the television. If you are going to be on the road tonight we hope that you are aware of the fact that some people let loose the night before Thanksgiving, which is why the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is known as “Blackout Wednesday.”

Due to the fact that most businesses will be closed tomorrow, and college kids are back home for the first time since the beginning of the semester, there will be no shortage of imbibing this evening. And many of those who “binge drink” tonight, will think that they can safely operate a motor vehicle—despite the fact that they most certainly cannot. Believe it or not, the night before Thanksgiving is actually a bigger drinking night for some people, than other holidays typified by heavy alcohol use—such as St. Patty’s and New Year’s Eve. If you can avoid being on the road tonight, please do.

Young people working a program of addiction recovery need to be extra careful when heading home for the holiday. There is a good chance you will be gathering with your friends from high school. Many of whom may not understand just how important your program is to you. They may even try to pressure you into having a few drinks, a pressure that you may find difficult to resist.

If you are not strong enough in your recovery to be in an environment comprised of people drinking a lot of alcohol, it is probably best that you do not attend. There is no shame in putting your recovery before your friends. In fact, making that kind of decision is a sign of progress, indicative of how far you have come that you would forgo your past for your future.

If you are coming home from school and plan to be there for a few days, it is a good idea to have a meeting schedule planned. It is important for you to stay connected with the program, even when you are traveling. Please remember that your disease follows you wherever you go. If you decide to take a break from meetings, it is an opportunity for old thinking and behavior to creep back in.

Cottonwood Tucson would like to commend everyone who is committed to keeping their program intact over the holiday and please do not forget that help is only a phone call away.