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SANTA FE — Start the new year with a healthy reset by joining the growing movement of Dry January, a month-long commitment to go alcohol-free and focus on wellness. 

Dry January is a global public health initiative encouraging people to take a break from alcohol for the entire month of January. 

 

While no amount of alcohol is healthy, even just taking a month off can lead to improved health benefits such as better sleep, weight loss, improved mood and energy, healthier eating, improved liver function, saving money and reduced cancer risk. The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is encouraging New Mexicans to participate in Dry January. 

 

“Dry January can be a great time for self-assessment to reflect on how much one drinks, the reasons for drinking, and also look to adopt healthier decisions surrounding alcohol use in general,” says Rebecca Neudecker, the section manager for the Office of Alcohol Misuse Prevention. 

 

Some helpful tips for a successful Dry January include: 

 

  • Have non-alcoholic drinks on hand and remove alcohol from your home. 
  • Plan alcohol-free events and activities. 
  • Practice saying “no” when offered a drink and be willing to decline invitations where drinking will occur. 
  • Hang out with other friends and family members participating in Dry January to be supportive of one another. 
  • Be kind to yourself if you end up drinking and know that cutting back also has improved health benefits. 

 

If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol misuse, please speak to your primary care provider and explore these resources:  

 

  • Try this free screening tool to learn about how alcohol affects your health and get linked to resources, including the free Connections App, if you’re trying to cut down or quit drinking.    
  • Free self-help videos on alcohol and other substances can be found through the New Mexico Health Care Authority Behavioral Health Services Division’s New Mexico 5-Actions Program website and can be used by people in recovery, by people who want to support loved ones, and adjunctively by healthcare professionals.   
  • If you or someone you love thinks they may have a drinking problem, you can get support by calling the American Addiction Centers’ confidential alcohol hotline at (313)-209-9574 or 988 for crisis support.  
  • If you need help finding a provider, please call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773).
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