RANDOLPH, Vt.,- April is National Alcohol Awareness Month. Established in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, it’s a time to reach out to communities across the country and provide answers to end the stigma associated with alcohol abuse.
Gifford’s Addiction Medicine team of Jennifer Pelletier and Dr. Christopher Lukonis
“There’s definitely a genetic component when it comes to addiction and substance abuse,” Jennifer Pelletier, one of two Addiction Medicine providers at Gifford said. “Parents who struggle with these issues can often pass them onto their children.”
Pelletier says to look for these signs your family member, friend, loved one or colleague may be battling a form of addiction:
- Changes in behavior
- If they’re drinking a lot more or trying to hide their alcohol use
- Taking higher risks like drinking and driving
If you suspect someone has a problem, Pelletier says telling them, “They have to get help or there will be a consequence,” doesn’t typically work. She suggests people talk to their loved ones in a way that is gentle and from a place of concern as opposed to a place of anger.
“We do require that the individual reaches out to schedule the appointment and come in, because we want to see that there’s some level of motivation on their side,” Pelletier said.
To read and watch a full interview with Pelletier, head to our website: www.giffordhealthcare.org.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact our Addiction Medicine team at 802-728-7744.
The team works out of our Kingwood Health Center in Randolph and in our Primary Care Health Center in Berlin.
