Community Resources

Aug

2022

WLEN Interview with Lenawee County Health Department Health Educator Becky Selenko

Woman’s Voice: The Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is a diverse group of dedicated community members united around the goal of reducing substance use in Lenawee County. LSAPC members work collaboratively to engage and educate the community in order to promote a healthy Lenawee.

Kathy Williams: This is Kathy Williams and with me on tonight’s program is Becky Selenko. And Becky is a health educator with the Lenawee County Health Department. And we’re going to be talking about medication lock bags. Becky, thanks for joining me for tonight’s program.

Becky Selenko: Thanks for inviting me.

Kathy Williams: So medication lock bags, what are they?

Becky Selenko: So, medication lock bags that we have been giving out are basically like a little like pouch that has a lock on it that can be personally configured, so that, to a combination that you remember, and then you can store your either marijuana or prescription drugs or that type of thing in them to keep them away from kids and pets.

Kathy Williams: I like the fact that it is the combo lock. Not a key I could lose.

Becky Selenko: Correct. Now you just have to remember the combo, right?

Kathy Williams: Yeah. True. Well, it’s only three numbers, right?

Becky Selenko: Yeah.

Kathy Williams: So, Becky, how did you come to be in possession of all these lock bags?

Becky Selenko: So, the Health Department applied for a medical marijuana grant through the State of Michigan. And through those funds that we received, we were able to purchase 2000 of these lock bags.

Kathy Williams: That is a lot, but I’m sure they’re probably going quickly. What should I put inside of them then?

Becky Selenko: Well, they could hold anything really that you want to keep away from kids and pets, whether it be prescription medications, medical, marijuana, recreational marijuana, or even over the counter pills that you’re concerned about. So any of those type of things would be appropriate for the lock bag.

Kathy Williams: So, there’s probably a few opportunities to actually get a lock bag. How can I find one?

Becky Selenko: Absolutely. Through the health department we’ve been going to different outreach events this summer. So we’ve been handing them out there. We also will be at the Day of HOPE that the Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is sponsoring at the end of August. So, we’re just trying to get out in the community. I’ve also been working with the local marijuana dispensaries to give them out to clients there.

Kathy Williams: Now, that’s great that they’re collaborating with you to help hand out the bags, because it is important sometimes to have what you need where you’re already at. And that’s, we were talking a little bit about that off-air is that, you’re trying to go where there are larger groups of people that will be able to, you know, take advantage of the bags that you have.

Becky Selenko: Exactly. I mean, it’s been a great partnership with those stores, just because, like you said, these are people that are already clients that are going there to purchase it. So if they just can leave with a lock bag and don’t have to think about picking one up, then it, you know, kind of checks that box off of their list.

Kathy Williams: Yeah. Now, if they don’t have a lock bag, though, we do want to remind them about some other places that they can take expired medication.

Becky Selenko: Oh, sure, absolutely. In the county we have red barrels, which are at local police and sheriff departments. There’s the Drug Take-Back Day, which happens twice a year in April and October. There’s also a disposal bin at Meijer pharmacy, as well as ProMedica ER, and then the Substance Abuse Coalition has the Deterra pouches, which safely deactivates the medication so that it can be thrown away in the household trash.

Kathy Williams: One of the biggest reasons that we want to promote the Lock it Up campaign is to hopefully help deter our younger adults and children from getting their hands on things they shouldn’t.

Becky Selenko: Absolutely. In the State of Michigan, they’ve seen an uptick in the number of calls to the Poison Control Center since recreational marijuana became legal in Michigan. So, they really want to get the word out, or we really want to get the word out that if you have, you know, items that may look like food or candy to young children that you want to, you know make sure you keep that locked up so they don’t have access to it.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. Now you do go to different events, you were saying that you’re trying to get to the farmer’s markets even.

Becky Selenko: Yes. I was just at the Adrian Farmer’s Market last, this past weekend and try to get to Tecumseh about once a month, just to kind of hit those areas where people are out and about and engage with the community.

Kathy Williams: Right. Well, I think it’s an important message of course, to get out and, a really nice bag. I mean, it looks like it would do the job.

Becky Selenko: Yeah, absolutely. We’ve been happy with the size of it and also kind of how it works. It’s simple, but it’s also, you know, provides protection, So…

Kathy Williams: Yeah. Very effective. Yeah. Becky, if people are interested in finding out more about the bags or talking to you directly, how can they get ahold of you?

Becky Selenko: Sure they can call me at the Health Department at my phone number is (517) 264-5253.

Kathy Williams: That’s “Becky Selenko” that you’re want to ask for.

Becky Selenko: Correct.

Kathy Williams: And Becky, we also, you and I talked that you would be interested in speaking at some service clubs and other, you know, large gatherings. If people are interested in having you come in as a guest speaker.

Becky Selenko: Sure. That would be, that’d be great. We’re just doing everything we can to kind of get the word out about, you know, lock it up. That’s the safe way to handle your prescription drugs and marijuana.

Kathy Williams: And these are available to anyone in Lenawee County is the other thing we want to make sure our listeners know that it’s not just Adrian and Tecumseh. So, you know, we’re encouraging people, even if they don’t need the bag themselves, if they know someone else who should, then maybe get it for them.

Becky Selenko: Yeah, absolutely. A lot of times grandkids may spend time with their, you know, grandparents who, you know… It’s something to think about for the whole family, not just the adults in the family.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. You know, it might be also helpful for someone who maybe is a caregiver and sometimes you have clients that are possibly overmedicating themselves. This would be a great way to secure those.

Becky Selenko: Yes, absolutely. And the nice part about the bag is that it’s big enough to hold quite a few items, but then it can also be, can also travel too. So that’s another plus of it.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. Well, we want to remind people then they can go to the Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Facebook page, and also get more information on the website, DrugPreventionLenawee.com. Becky, is there anything else you’d like to add? It’s all about education.

Becky Selenko: It is all about education. You’re right. Just that we’re trying to, you know, keep kids and our pets safe in our community. So, this is just one of the things that we’re trying to do at the Health Department.

Kathy Williams So there you go. Thank you so much.

Becky Selenko: Thank you.

Woman’s Voice: Thank you for listening. This information has been provided by the Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. Supported by funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration. New messages air on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:15 p.m. You can listen to this program as a podcast under the audio tab on WLEN.com and listen and gather more information at DrugPreventionLenawee.com.

Mar

2022

WLEN Interview with Parkside Family Counseling Peer Recovery Coach Elizabeth Kelly

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Kathy Williams: This is Kathy Williams. And with me on tonight’s program is Elizabeth Kelly, and Elizabeth is a Certified Peer Recovery Coach with Parkside Family Counseling. Elizabeth, we appreciate you taking time out to talk with us about your story and Parkside tonight.

Elizabeth Kelly: You’re very welcome. Thank you for having me here.

Kathy Williams: So we want to, you know, we’ve had some other peer support people on the program before that are involved with Inter-Connections and things like that. Of course, Parkside offers a little bit different spin on peer support, and having a history with a substance problem, you are able to bring a different perspective, I would say to that kind of counseling.

Elizabeth Kelly: Absolutely. I am an addict in long term recovery and when introducing myself to new individuals, I say, you know, I am a Certified Peer Recovery Coach and the most important word in that title being peer.

Kathy Williams: Right.

Elizabeth Kelly: I am just like anyone else. So, that is definitely… I’m able to bring the “I’ve been there, done that” to the situation. So, you know, there’s no judgment involved and just a little bit more of the insight because I’ve been there on a personal level.

Kathy Williams: Yeah. You know, in lots of different things that happen in our lives, that the person who has been there is usually the most helpful because they can relate to your exact circumstances. Would you like to tell us a little bit about your history then? How things kind of went south on you?

Elizabeth Kelly: How things went south – well… No, I actually was predisposed to become an addict. Both of my biological parents were addicts themselves.

Kathy Williams: Okay.

Elizabeth Kelly: But I did have a wonderful childhood. I grew up here in Lenawee County. I’m a graduate of Onsted High School. You know, I was involved in sports, did well in school. And then once I got to college, you know, and the… a little bit of the experimentation stage started and it is a very slippery slope from there, especially when you have parents that are battling the same issues. It makes you just that much more likely to become an addict yourself. So it was very quick for me to go from, you know, alcohol to marijuana, to prescription pills. And it’s just a very slippery slope.

Kathy Williams: It is. And how did you, how did you pull yourself out of it? What kind of help did you get at the time?

Elizabeth Kelly: I went to a residential treatment facility myself, but without family and friends to support, I would not be here today. Support is absolutely one of the most important parts of recovery. I highly encourage individuals to reach out to support systems by going to meetings or, you know, going to sober events, whatever that they can do. But the more supports the better – you can’t have too many.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. Well, and I think that that’s sometimes the hard spot for people is admitting to themselves, maybe that they need some help, that they’re not gonna be able do this on their own. And it’s not a defeat to say that.

Elizabeth Kelly: No, not at all. Addiction does not discriminate. Unfortunately, there is that stigma that comes along with it, and that is what we are trying so hard to help end that stigma. You know, there should not be shame associated with that. It doesn’t matter, you know, your age, gender, religious backgrounds… I mean…

Kathy Williams: Economic status, none of it.

Elizabeth Kelly: None of it. Yes. It does not matter. Like I said, I had a great childhood and I had loving parents that took care of me, you know, all these opportunities, but that doesn’t mean that I was completely safe from addiction. Yeah.

Kathy Williams: Right, right. It didn’t blind you to a genetic issue even.

Elizabeth Kelly: Absolutely.

Kathy Williams: And sometimes that’s what it comes down to is a predisposition. People struggle with mental health issues in lots of different ways. And so now that you’re at Parkside, what kind of support groups do you offer there? How does that process work? How do people get involved in it?

Elizabeth Kelly: Well, there is many ways to become involved over at Parkside. We work with the drug court. We work with CMH. We do self-referrals. You know, the first level I would say is our engagement groups. And I facilitate those every week. We do them Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and Friday mornings.

Kathy Williams: Okay.

Elizabeth Kelly: So, we do those weekly and that’s the easiest way to, you know, kind of ease way into it if you’re not quite sure where you’re at. But Parkside absolutely offers a variety of services for both adults and most importantly teens because not very many agencies around offer it for…

Kathy Williams: The younger generation.

Elizabeth Kelly: For the younger generation. And let’s be fair, that’s a very important generation.

Kathy Williams: It is, especially with the extra stress that they’ve been under the last couple years. I mean being a teen is always stressful, I think.

Elizabeth Kelly: Right.

Kathy Williams: But the isolation and all these other extra things that have come into play have really exasperated people’s mental health on many, many levels. Is Parkside something that… do they offer insurance coverage? Do, is it a sliding scale?

Elizabeth Kelly: Yes.

Kathy Williams: How does a person, you know, find out what their benefits would be of going there?

Elizabeth Kelly: That is a great question. And my best answer for that is I know that we, while we accept many insurances, there’s also the self-paced sliding scale that is available for those who do not have insurance.

Kathy Williams; Okay.

Elizabeth Kelly: But your best option absolutely would be to contact Parkside directly.

Kathy Williams: There you go.

Elizabeth Kelly: Calling the office or we have a website that you can go to that is ParksideForFamilies.com.

Kathy Williams: Okay. And the phone number?

Elizabeth Kelly: And the phone number is (517) 266-8880.

Kathy Williams: So, basically you could call or check out the website and just see where they fall in, what kind of services might be available for them, and explore.

Elizabeth Kelly: Absolutely.

Kathy Williams: There’s always no commitment.

Elizabeth Kelly: No, absolutely no, no commitment. And just checking it out, the website has an incredible amount of information on it, ranging from all of our services, including, you know, family services, mental health services, the youth services, and the substance use disorder services.

Kathy Williams: Elizabeth, we appreciate you sharing your story tonight with us and helping us become more aware of what Parkside offers. What’s the address of Parkside?

Elizabeth Kelly: Parkside Family Counseling is located at 805 West Maumee, which is right across the street from Hungry Howie’s.

Kathy Williams: Oh, there you go. So easy to find. And again, the phone number and website?

Elizabeth Kelly: The phone number is (517) 266-8880. And the website is ParksideForFamilies.com. And we are also on Facebook.

Kathy Williams: There you go. Thanks so much again, Elizabeth. We appreciate you and all you’ve been through and the help you’re giving our community.

Elizabeth Kelly: Thank you so much.

Feb

2022

WLEN Interview with Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee Director of Youth Prevention and Outreach Amanda Olguin

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Kathy Williams: This is Kathy Williams. And with me on tonight’s program is Amanda Olguin. And Amanda is the Director of Youth Prevention and Outreach at the Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee. Amanda, we’re going to be talking about a fairly new program that you have going on there, correct?

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, the Transitions Program, which is… we’re going into our second year actually, of the program.

Kathy Williams: And, tell our listeners then what’s all involved in the program: Is there age brackets? How’s that work?

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, so our Transitions Program is a State Opioid Response Grant-funded program through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. And through that program, we provide substance use prevention to teens ages 13 to 19 throughout Lenawee County.

Kathy Williams: So, I know you have the club in Adrian, you have other locations then?

Amanda Olguin: So, we have the club in Adrian, and then we do have a club in Hudson as well.

Kathy Williams: Okay. Do kids come from all the other areas though then to the Adrian club for different events and such?

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, so we’re open to anyone. Any students throughout Lenawee County can come to any of our clubs or both of our locations.

Kathy Williams: So, Amanda, for the Transitions Program itself then, what kind of materials are you using? What’s the direction of the instructions for that?

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, so we use a program called Life Skills Training. And in that program, we use social-emotional skills and we build life skills. So we go through six different units. We teach students goal setting, we do effective communication, stress management, relationship building, budget, and time management. So, those are just a few of the skills we go over. So we’re really setting them up for success later in life.

Kathy Williams: Okay. So, and that is an important part of you know, steering kids away from drug use of course, is to empower them with better tools, I guess you could say, or just a better attitude about their lives, basically.

Amanda Olguin: Absolutely. We know, just looking at research that it’s really important that we’re building up protective factors for these kids. So they’re going into life and they have these skills to manage life, really.

Kathy Williams: Right, right.

Amanda Olguin: And the stresses that come along with it. So, we’re building those skills and giving them protective factors to reduce their risk of becoming addicted to substances.

Kathy Williams: Well, and I would think that with all the extra stress of the last couple years with the shutdowns and everything, that these kind of tools probably even come into play even more than before, because they’re actually learning how to live differently in their everyday lives right now.

Amanda Olguin: Absolutely. I mean, kids are really stressed right now. It’s been a stressful time for adults and especially kids who haven’t been able to socially interact the way they are used to. So yes, these… this class can help a lot with just helping them manage the stresses they’re experiencing right now.

Kathy Williams: Well, and the Boys and Girls Club offers a good side-by-side I would maybe say, as far as, counseling, peer advocacy, that kind of stuff.

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, absolutely. It’s a great place where they can come connect with their peers. We have really positive adult role models at the club that they can connect with. And having those adults in youth’s lives is really important. We run different programs, so we’re helping build their confidence, and their self-esteem, and leadership skills, giving homework help, so…

Kathy Williams: That’s what I was going to say: extra tutoring assistance and such too.

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, extra tutoring. So, we have a lot of different programs we run for students.

Kathy Williams: Well it’s a great place for kids to go. Do they go just after school?

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, it’s after school so we are open after school: 2:45 until 7:00 PM.

Kathy Williams: Okay, and that’s got to help with taking a little bit of those stressors also off the parents, that they know their kids are in a safe place, a safe environment, and that they are getting their schoolwork done or, you know, that kind of thing. So the parent, you know, kind of, doesn’t have to worry about that quite as much.

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, absolutely. We give them a place for their kids to go instead of going home or going who knows where after school, right?

Kathy Williams: Yeah, who knows where. Right.

Amanda Olguin: We give them a nice, safe place to go. They get a meal, so we do feed them dinner. So, we send them home, hopefully happy and fed.

Kathy Williams: There you go. Well, and that’s important because if kids aren’t fed, they can’t, they don’t learn.

Amanda Olguin: Yeah.

Kathy Williams: They’re distracted by hunger.

Amanda Olguin: Absolutely.

Kathy Williams: That’s one of the things that I know we have some great organizations in our county that are all trying to alleviate hunger and make sure that our students are fed. Especially during the, you know, the different school breaks and such trying to send snacks home on weekends and all that kind of stuff.

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, absolutely. And we certainly try to do that too. We have food that we can send home on the weekend for any kids that need it, and half days we provide them lunch and dinner. So we make sure they’re taken care of.

Kathy Williams: There you go. Well, Amanda, if our listeners are interested in finding out more about the Transitions Program or even how they could be involved in the Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee, how can they do that?

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, so you can call us at (517) 266-9775. You can email me about the Transitions Program: aolguin@bgclenawee.org. Or you can find us on Facebook @BoysAndGirlsClubOfLenawee.

Kathy Williams: There you go. Well, thanks so much. And Amanda, we appreciate you talking with us about the Boys and Girls Club and their Transitions Program.

Amanda Olguin: Yeah, thank you so much for having me.

Jan

2022

WLEN Interview with LCMHA / Pathways Engagement Center Program Manager Kellie Niese

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Kathy Williams: This is Kathy Williams and with me tonight is Kellie Niese and she is the project manager for Pathways Engagement Center. She’s also the HRSA grant Recovery Coordinator. Kellie, got a great topic tonight. We’re going to be talking about your crisis stabilization group.

Kellie Niese: Right.

Kathy Williams: Tell us, tell our listeners, what is that all about?

Kellie Niese: So the Crisis Stabilization group is a work group of the bigger prevention coalition in Lenawee County.

Kathy Williams: Okay.

Kellie Niese: And it’s a group that’s been stalled over the last couple years, secondary to the COVID pandemic, but really it is involving law enforcement and first responders, and access points in our community to people that are in crisis for mental health and substance use disorder.

Kathy Williams: Well I know we talked about the overdose issues recently. I know a lot of people are shocked at how much that happens in our little community.

Kellie Niese: Right. In parallel with the COVID pandemic, the incidence of overdose, substance use disorder have actually increased. I was talking to you about just the last month we had 11 overdoses in Lenawee County with Narcan administration and one overdose death. So it is a problem that’s pertinent here in Adrian.

Kathy Williams: So the goal of this group then, like you just kind of said, is to breach a stop gap moment where we’re kind of losing track of people when they could need the help the most, and possibly be… maybe a little bit more interested in finding out some changes they could make?

Kellie Niese: Right. It’s meeting people where their need is the highest. So, at that point when they’re struggling and don’t have anywhere to go and might encounter law enforcement or EMS, instead of taking them to jail or some sort of punitive process that follows their encounter with law enforcement, actually directing them to someplace that they can get help, whether that’s the engagement center, whether that’s Lenawee Community Mental Health, whether that’s the emergency department. But the goal of this group is to get the emergency department, first responders, and law enforcement, all kind of working together to get that person to a place of help.

Kathy Williams: That’s one of the things too, that they get at Pathways Engagement Center is they have some peer support…

Kellie Niese: That’s right.

Kathy Williams: That maybe might even encourage them taking advantage of more of these other opportunities.

Kellie Niese: Right. Someone that has been in their shoes with substance use disorder and has come out the other side with success can definitely kind of walk that path with a person in crisis that’s going through it right now and take them and help them, guide them to a place of recovery and support.

Kathy Williams: So the different groups then that are involved in the Crisis Stabilization group, what kind of entities are those?

Kellie Niese: Well, I’m actually really excited. We had a really good response from Lenawee County. We have the Adrian Police Department, Michigan State Patrol, Lenawee County Jail is involved with a jail release program that gets people connected to substance use disorder treatment, ProMedica ER, and CMH access.

Kathy Williams: Okay.

Kellie Niese: So, really all the groups that kind of touch folks when they’re in trouble or in crisis, they’re all kind of working together to create a plan to move forward.

Kathy Williams: Didn’t you also mention to me off air that the Probation Department is involved.

Kellie Niese: Right. So substance use disorder has two treatment programs through Lenawee County: Drug Court and Sobriety Court.

Kathy Williams: Okay.

Kellie Niese: And so we’re really hoping to get the probation officers involved in this process too, to make sure that people that are in those programs have the support that they need.

Kathy Williams: You know, the sad part is is that over the last couple of years, there is more signs of depression in our community.

Kellie Niese: Yeah.

Kathy Williams: And of course, then drug use and alcohol use people think might help get them through things, but in essence, they end up falling down a sad rabbit hole.

Kellie Niese: Yeah. I feel like the pandemic has affected our community in so many ways, and just people have stopped going out. And so that means people are kind of isolated and they’re not reaching out for help even more than before.

Kathy Williams: Right.

Kellie Niese: And so I do think the need is higher during this time; like I just think that we need to reinvigorate our efforts to kind of engage people and let people know the resources that are already available out in our community.

Kathy Williams: Well and become more social face-to-face…

Kellie Niese: Right.

Kathy Williams: And not social media. You know, I think that the human interaction has, you know, has been sidelined by all this. And yet that’s where you get your best support is in a face-to-face.

Kellie Niese: Right.

Kathy Williams: And that’s why the Pathways Engagement Center is so important in our community.

Kellie Niese: It is. Isolation is a huge symptom of substance use disorder.

Kathy Williams: Right.

Kellie Niese: It’s an easy way for people with in crisis to cope, is just to kind of pull away from everything. And so at Pathways, we really do work to re-engage and reconnect with people and kind of instill that hope in them that they may be missing.

Kathy Williams: There you go. Kelly, if our listeners want to find out more about the Crisis Stabilization group, can they find that out through the LCMHA site or Pathways, how would they call?

Kellie Niese: Both. So LCMHA’s site – the website – and also the prevention coalition website both have links to the work groups there. If not, they can reach out to Lenawee County Community Health which is (517) 263-8905.

Kathy Williams: Oh, thanks so much, Kelly. It’s an interesting group and we hope that our community sees great results from it.

Kellie Niese: Great. Thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to talk.

Jan

2022

WLEN Interview with Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Coordinator Madeline DeMarco

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Kathy Williams: This is Kathy Williams. And with me tonight is Madeline DeMarco, and Madeline is with the Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority as well as the Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. And Madeline, we’ve talked a few times now about mental health and substance abuse issues, and I think that the subject we’re going to talk about right now that for January is kind of exciting. Let’s have a dry month.

Madeline DeMarco: Thanks for having me, Kathy. You’re absolutely right. We’re talking all about Dry January today, which is a growing trend where folks make a pledge to not drink alcohol for the full month of January. And this started really as kind of a reaction to all the holiday partying and luxuries that we enjoy during December. So, kind of like a New Year’s resolution to just kind of reset and make some healthy choices for yourself.

Kathy Williams: Yeah, I mean it’s like every month you can have something different, but what a great idea to just kind of, like you said, reset. Let’s just take January off. We’re not going to have anything with alcohol in it, but we can do some creative mixing that doesn’t include liquor. So there’s lots of benefits for a Dry January.

Madeline DeMarco: Yes. And the first thing that I want to say is that Dry January is really for everybody. It’s not just for folks that have, you know, an alcohol use disorder or something more serious. But it’s really a personal and kind of individual wellness challenge that anybody can do. And we love it because, like you said, it has a ton of health benefits. So, if you abstain from alcohol, it can lead to things like better sleep and having higher energy levels. You know, so you’ll do better at work, stay awake better, those sorts of things. It can strengthen your immune system, which we’re all looking for during these times.

Kathy Williams: Exactly.

Madeline DeMarco: You can see improved skin health, so your skin will be less dry, less redness… Some people say that, you know, acne and things can clear up. You might reach a healthier weight. And there’s some non-physical things as well. You know, you can save money. We all know what it’s like to look at your wallet at the end of a night out at the bar. It’s not always pretty.

Kathy Williams: Yep.

Madeline DeMarco: So, you can save some money and you’ll be more socially connected to the people around you too. You know, when you’re not always worrying about showing up to a place and immediately ordering your drink and kind of mindlessly drinking it, you can really be more connected to your friends and family when you’re not drinking. And you’ll have a clearer mind too, because you won’t be impaired by the alcohol.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. And it gives you a chance maybe to reevaluate: Do I need to have those drinks? Do, you know, can I fill that time in other ways and still have a fun evening without several glasses of whatever?

Madeline DeMarco: When you see, yeah, that, you know, “I didn’t have alcohol and I felt great the next morning,” you didn’t have to deal with the hangover or any of those substances, like you said, you might realize that, “Yeah, I feel better when I don’t drink” and that might lead to some more long-term lifestyle changes as well.

Kathy Williams: So, there’s a lot of tips that we can give people to succeed in their January, Dry January.

Madeline DeMarco: So some of the things that we recommend to help with your success in your Dry January is to number one, tell folks what you’re doing. Tell your family and friends, tell your neighbors, tell your coworkers, so that they can help keep you accountable. You know, if you tell someone: “Hey, I’m trying not to drink.” and then five minutes later you go to order a glass of wine, you know, your friends and family can kind of say: “Hey, wait a minute. Didn’t you just say…?”

Kathy Williams: Exactly, they love to call you out.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. And you can also recruit folks to do it with you. It’s always easier to do things when we’re in a group and we can support each other. And if folks around you, aren’t drinking, then you’ll be less likely to drink as well. Some other things that you can do include things like identifying the things that maybe normally encourage you to drink alcohol and try to make some new habits around that. So, for example, if you normally go to the bar every Thursday night, maybe call a friend during that time or go to the gym instead so that you’re not tempted to drink. And then you can also experience with, or experiment, with some mocktails or some non-alcoholic drinks as well. So, you can still treat yourself.

Kathy Williams: Right. Well, and there’s so many different ways that you can make a non-alcoholic drink. I know just by eliminating vodka, vodka has no flavor, and so you can, you know, mix it up with other spices and such to have a great flavor.

Madeline DeMarco: Yeah, there’s a lot of things that you can do because non-alcoholic drinks don’t just have to be something boring, like a juice box, you know, from the kids cooler at a party, right? But it can be a lot of fun.

Kathy Williams: Yes.

Madeline DeMarco: And so some things that you can try or, you know, making it look good: there’s all these Instagram posts about fancy cocktails and the way that they look. And so there’s no reason that your, you know, your non-alcoholic drink can’t look like a little Baby Yoda in a glass, for example.

Kathy Williams: Exactly.

Madeline DeMarco: And you can make a lot of fun, homemade ingredients like syrups, or, you know, some flavored waters with fruit juices and things like that to spice up the flavors of what you’re drinking. And those things can also be used outside of, you know, beverages as well. You can put them on cakes, you can put them in your oatmeal and your yogurt and kind of get some double-duty. We love those kitchen hacks.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. Well, the sources for those mixes is endless. I mean, you can Google it.

Madeline DeMarco: Yes. Yeah. The world of mocktails is not what it used to be. It’s really taken off and there’s a whole market of non-alcoholic spirits, if that makes sense, out there where you can buy things online that kind of mimic the flavor or the idea of gin without actually having alcohol in it. So that can be a great option as well.

Kathy Williams: So if someone needs maybe some extra support, they can call Lenawee Community Mental Health again.

Madeline DeMarco: Yes, Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority is always available if you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol use or other mental health needs. And so if you notice that you’re trying Dry January and it’s kind of challenging for you, really difficult, it could be a sign of a more serious issue. So again, CMH is here for you. We’re happy to help. So, you can call us at (517) 263-8905 and we’re happy to help.

Kathy Williams: And we’re going to have some extra ideas and such on the LSAPC website.

Madeline DeMarco: Yes. We have a website: www.DrugPreventionLenawee.com. And you can also learn more on our Facebook page. It’s @LenaweeVsAddiction, where, like you said, we’ll be sharing tips throughout the month of January.

Kathy Williams: Put some recipes on there.

Madeline DeMarco: Yeah, absolutely.

Kathy Williams: Thanks, Madeline. And here’s to your Dry January.

Madeline DeMarco: Cheers.