Information on both Dry January and Damp January. This includes: what they are, the differences between the two, the benefits of each, ways to use them to assess drinking habits and what to do if there is an indication of an alcohol use disorder.
ARGYLE, Texas, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Over the last decade, "Dry January" has become a popular way to begin the year for many. Dry January is when an individual commits to not drink any alcohol for the 31 days in the month.¹ More recently, "Damp January" has also become a popular way to begin the year. Damp January is setting a goal to decrease drinking by a certain amount and committing to do so for the month. It is a way to commit to reducing alcohol intake for those who aren't interested in abstaining completely for the month.
There are benefits to participating in either challenge.
Benefits reported by those abstinent from alcohol for a month:
- Financial savings
- Improved sleep
- Increase in energy
- Better overall health – such as weight loss and a decrease in blood pressure. ²
Damp January can be beneficial as studies have shown a reduction in alcohol can also lead to the similar health improvements, especially for those who were heavier drinks prior to reducing their alcohol intake.⁴
However, any benefits are short lived if an individual begins drinking the same amount and at the same frequency, they did prior to the challenge.³
Whether one is participating in Dry or Damp January, it is a good time to:
- Identify the reasons you drink alcohol and determine if other activities can accomplish the same goals. (i.e. you usually drink due to stress and now will try to go for a walk)
- Evaluate how difficult you find it to abstain or reduce your alcohol intake.
- Assess how your body feels when you are abstaining or reducing your alcohol intake.
- Determine what, if any, changes you'll make in your alcohol intake going forward.
"These challenges can be a way for someone to analyze their relationship with alcohol and determine what changes they can make to continue throughout the year and beyond. If someone tries and is unable to decrease their alcohol intake, that could serve as an indication to seek professional help. We have treated alcohol dependence and other substance use disorders for 27 years, and if we aren't the right fit for an individual, we will help them find a place that is," says Santé's Medical Director, Melissa Pennington, D.O.
For more information on Santé and how help those with alcohol dependence and addiction, click here.
About Santé Center for Healing: For 27 years now, Santé has been fearlessly furthering a world where lives are defined by recovery, not addiction. Why? Left untreated, addiction is a fatal disease. 1 in 3 families are directly impacted by substance use disorder, and often for generations. Santé's mission is to provide the resources for long-term recovery through an integrated clinical and medical continuum of care individualized to each unique person and family we have the pleasure to serve. For more information, visit www.santecenter.com.
- https://alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/managing-your-drinking/dry-january/about-dry-january/the-dry-january-story
- de Ternay J, Leblanc P, Michel P, Benyamina A, Naassila M, Rolland B. One-month alcohol abstinence national campaigns: a scoping review of the harm reduction benefits. Harm Reduct J. 2022 Mar 4;19(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12954-022-00603-x. PMID: 35246148; PMCID: PMC8895623.
- Witkiewitz K, Heather N, Falk DE, Litten RZ, Hasin DS, Kranzler HR, Mann KF, O'Malley SS, Anton RF. World Health Organization risk drinking level reductions are associated with improved functioning and are sustained among patients with mild, moderate and severe alcohol dependence in clinical trials in the United States and United Kingdom. Addiction. 2020 Sep;115(9):1668-1680. doi: 10.1111/add.15011. Epub 2020 Mar 10. PMID: 32056311; PMCID: PMC7841874.
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(17)30003-8
Media Contact
Hollie Higgins, Santé Center for Healing, 1 214.444.7350, [email protected], https://www.santecenter.com/
SOURCE Santé Center for Healing
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