“Dry January? An experience to try to see the place that alcohol takes in your life. »

What if in January, we eased up on alcohol? Or, rather, if we raised our elbows less… For five years in France, the Dry January attempts a challenge, that of stop drinking alcohol for a month.

After the end-of-year holidays, taking such a break undoubtedly helps eliminate the excesses of the last few weeks. But, above all, it will allow us to understand our relationship with alcohol and the place that it occupies in daily life.

At least this is the opinion of health professionals within the Les Sources service dedicated to addictions, at the hospital center in Mortagne-au-Perche (Orne).

Alcohol dependence, a public health issue

“Dry January? It’s an experience to try to see the place that alcohol takes in your life,” says Hélène Perronnurse and member of the Addictology Liaison and Care Team (ELSA). It is supported in this sense by Catherine Dagonneauacting as a framework for the Sources, and Magali Chevalier, psychologist.

While the service treats different forms of addiction such as tobacco and cannabis, it mainly takes care of disorders linked to alcohol use.

A disease that causes a lot of damage. A real public health issue.

Comprehensive and diversified care is put in place around the patient whose hospitalization (five weeks on average) is not carried out urgently but always on a scheduled basis.

Profits after a month

Physical, psychosocial, economic damage… Alcoholism, “a chronic illness”, destroys not only the patient, but also those close to him. “A quarter of French people do not respect the recommendations of experts regarding usage. »

So any prevention or awareness-raising action is relevant. Dry January is one of them.

“This alcohol-free month is aimed primarily at occasional consumers. It is not intended for sick people who need follow-up,” warns Hélène Perron. An abrupt cessation, for a clinically dependent man or woman, would be dangerous.

Dry January can, on the other hand, help you understand the place that alcohol plays in your life. It’s an experiment to try and if you experience it badly, if it’s difficult, then you have to question yourself. It’s an alert.

For these health professionals, trained in the management of addictions, this month without alcohol can help to see if there is a problem. Alcohol has consequences on sleep, concentration, weight gain, etc.

After just one month of abstinence, it is not uncommon for people to tell caregivers that they feel better.

They didn’t feel bad before, but they discovered after a month that they were better, that they were less tired, with two kilos less… That’s the point of Dry January.

Social pressure

Another interest is to regain power by simply saying no.

Social pressure is sometimes strong. Saying no is an experience to be had. During this month of January, it may be easier. Then just keep going.

This pressure is often mentioned by patients. The latter, with varied profiles, benefit from an adapted therapeutic program, with collective and individual time.

As demand is high, a waiting list has been set up. “In the territory, we have observed that delays have lengthened for external consultations. » A sign that there are many requests. “But it’s difficult to know if there are really more cases or if we are more accepting today of seeking treatment. »

Opened in 1995, the service has evolved since 2022 by taking into account cognitive disorders, linked to alcoholism, “for adapted care”, underlines Magali Chevalier.

The team has been strengthened around the doctor, with a neuropsychologist, a dietician, an adapted sports professional… Meeting room, kitchen, wellness lounge, manual workshops: at the Les Sources service, the patient learns to live again. Without alcohol.

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